The Amsterdam Classification of Completeness of Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (ACCESS): a new CT-based scoring system grading the extent of surgery.

BACKGROUND: A debate is ongoing on the role of the extent of sinus surgery in disease control in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). The newly developed Amsterdam Classification on Completeness of Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (ACCESS) score provides a way to quantify extent of surgery. This study aimed to validate the ACCESS scoring system and to report its interrater agreement compa- red to the widely used Lund-Mackay (LM) scoring system. METHODOLOGY: Forty hand-picked anonymized computed tomography scans of sinuses of patients with varying pathology and degree of previous sinus surgery were independently scored by six rhinologists. Interrater agreement was determined by the intraclass correlation (ICC) statistic. RESULTS: The interrater agreement of the ACCESS score was excellent, comparable to the LM score. The ACCESS interrater agree- ment was not influenced by degree of opacification or diagnosis. The ACCESS score reliably measured predicted differences induced by sinus surgery. CONCLUSIONS: the ACCESS score is an easy-to-use valid tool to assess extent of sinus surgery with an excellent interrater agree- ment. Further validation in a random group of CRS cases is required.

Structural variations of the supratubal recess: the anterior epitympanic space.

HYPOTHESIS: We sought to classify the shape and structure of the anterior epitympanic space (AES) and produce measurements of its dimensions together with its relationships with the facial nerve and geniculate ganglion. BACKGROUND: The AES is limited by the middle cranial fossa superiorly, zygoma root anteriorly, cog posteriorly, chorda tympani laterally, facial nerve medially, and tensor tympanic semicanal inferiorly. METHODS: The AES was examined in 30 human temporal bones using two different methods. Twenty bones were cut vertically and a modified radical mastoidectomy was performed in the other 10 bones. RESULTS: The AES showed two types in the vertically cut bones according to its shape and structure. Type I, found in 17 (85%) of the bones, showed two cavities that were separated by a bony landmark and the tensor tympanic fold. The name "supratubal ridge" is suggested for this bony landmark. In type II, which was seen in three (15%) of the bones, there was only one cavity. In the mastoidectomy group, again two types of AES were found: eight (80%) were type I and two (20%) were found to be type II. If we combine these findings with the vertically cut bones, we find that 25 (83.3%) possess an AES type I, whereas five (16.7%) are type II. CONCLUSIONS: These variations in the structure of the AES and its close relationships with a number of vital structures such as the facial nerve, cochlea, and middle fossa dura must be taken into account during the surgical management of middle ear disease.