title: [Significance of the sinus x-ray prior to septoplasty].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is still disagreement concerning the significance of sinus x-ray prior to septoplasty: according to the previous guidelines for Diagnostic and Therapy of the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology and head and neck surgery in 1996, a sinus x-ray prior to septoplasty was seen as "necessary." According to the guidelines from 2010, a suitable radiology imaging is just "optional." In the present study, we analyzed the significance of a sinus x-ray to exclude a chronic sinusitis prior to septoplasty.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 96 patients were included in this study. All were admitted to the hospital by an ENT specialist for septoplasty with conchotomy. The preoperatively performed sinus x-ray was evaluated with regard to an already existing sinusitis. These results were correlated with the patients' anamnesis and the nasal endoscopic view.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A sinus x-ray (occipitomental) was obtained in all 96 patients. No pathological result was observed in 82 patients, while 14 patients showed pathology in the paranasal sinus. After a detailed appraisal of the sinus x-ray with pathology, 7 patients with pathological findings in the paranasal sinus remained. In the other 7 patients, the statement was false positive. In only 3 patients was a CT image obtained, which resulted in modification of the surgical procedure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings show that a routinely performed sinus x-ray is not necessary prior to septoplasty. If there is reasonable suspicion for pathology in the paranasal sinus, radiological imaging is necessary, whereby a CT scan should be performed.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Hals-, Nasen- und Ohrenheilkunde, Am Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin. Florian.Bast@charite.de
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bast
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Weikert
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schrom
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012225:Rhinoplasty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016896:Treatment Outcome