title: Surgical management of rhinosinusitis in onco-hematological patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In onco-hematological diseases, the incidence of paranasal sinuses infection dramatically increase and requires a combination of medical and surgical therapy. Balloon dilatation surgery (DS) is a minimally invasive, tissue preserving procedure. The study evaluates the results of DS for rhinosinusitis in immunocompromised patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective chart review was conducted in 110 hematologic patients with rhinosinusitis. Twenty-five patients were treated with DS technique and 85 patients with endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). We considered the type of anesthesia and the extent of intra- and postoperative bleeding. Patients underwent Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-20) to evaluate changes in subjective symptoms and global patient assessment (GPA) questionnaire to value patient satisfaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Local anesthesia was employed in 8 cases of DS and in 15 of ESS. In 50 ESS patients, an anterior nasal packing was placed and in 12 cases a repacking was necessary. In the DS group, nasal packing was required in 8 cases and in 2 cases a repacking was placed (P=0.019 and P=0.422, respectively). The SNOT-20 change score showed significant improvement of health status in both groups. However the DS group showed a major improvement in 3 voices: need to blow nose, runny nose, and facial pain/pressure. The 3-month follow-up GPA questionnaire showed an higher satisfaction of DS group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Balloon DS represents a potentially low aggressive treatment and appears to be relatively safe and effective in onco-hematologic patients. All these remarks may lead the surgeon to consider a larger number of candidates for surgical procedure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Itlay.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Di Girolamo
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Itlay.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mazzone
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Itlay.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Di Mauro
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Itlay.
authors.forename: Piergiorgio
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Giacomini
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Itlay.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cantonetti
keywords: Balloon sinuplasty; Oncohematological disease; Rhinosinusitis