title: Isolated sphenoid sinus disease: An overlooked cause of headache.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate patients who underwent endoscopic sphenoid sinus surgery for isolated sphenoid sinus disease. We also investigated the impact of sphenoid sinus surgery on headache intensity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-one consecutive patients who underwent endoscopic sphenoidotomy for isolated sphenoid sinus disease were included in the study. Diagnosis of isolated sphenoid sinus pathology was based on history, physical examination, and radiologic evaluation. All patients had headache with various localizations. Pre- and postoperative headache intensity of patients was scored using a visual analogue scale (VAS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most common location of headache was the vertex (24%). The preoperative and postoperative mean VAS scores for headache were 8.24 ± 0.94 and 2.67 ± 1.49, respectively. Statistical comparison revealed a significant improvement in headache intensity (p < 0.01). Polyps (33.3%) were the most common pathology, followed by inflammation (23.8%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The most common presenting symptom of isolated sphenoid sinus disease is headache. In this study, we demonstrated that headache induced by isolated sphenoid disease can be relieved by endoscopic sphenoidotomy. Sphenoid sinus disease should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with subacute or chronic headache.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Gaziantep University Faculty of Medicine, Gaziantep, Turkey. Electronic address: facelenk@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Fatih
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Celenk
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Gaziantep University Faculty of Medicine, Gaziantep, Turkey.
authors.forename: Secaattin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gulsen
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Gaziantep University Faculty of Medicine, Gaziantep, Turkey.
authors.forename: Burhanettin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gonuldas
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Gaziantep University Faculty of Medicine, Gaziantep, Turkey.
authors.forename: Elif
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Baysal
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Gaziantep University Faculty of Medicine, Gaziantep, Turkey.
authors.forename: Cengiz
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Durucu
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Gaziantep University Faculty of Medicine, Gaziantep, Turkey.
authors.forename: Muzaffer
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kanlikama
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Gaziantep University Faculty of Medicine, Gaziantep, Turkey.
authors.forename: Semih
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mumbuc
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009078:Mucocele / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D009181:Mycoses / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D009298:Nasal Polyps / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D010254:Paranasal Sinus Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D010255:Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Fungal infection; Headache; Polyp; Sphenoid sinus