Recalcitrant rhinosinusitis, innate immunity, and mannose-binding lectin.

BACKGROUND: Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) is a protein produced by the liver that participates in innate immunity by tagging the surface of microbes for opsonization. Mannose-binding lectin deficiency is present in 7% of the population and has been implicated in recurrent respiratory tract infections in children. Mannose-binding lectin deficiency has not been explored in rhinosinusitis but is associated with increased mortality in adult pneumococcal infection. The purpose of this report is to describe a tertiary rhinology patient experience with MBL deficiency and recalcitrant rhinosinusitis. METHODS: This retrospective case series report characterizes predominantly adult patients with low MBL levels from January 2010 to June 2012. Indications for MBL testing, sinus culture data, immunological testing results, and treatments used to control rhinosinusitis are described. RESULTS: Mannose-binding lectin levels were deficient in 12 of 36 patients (33.3%) tested. IgG subclasses were abnormally low in 5 of 12 patients; IgA was normal in 11 of 12 patients; and IgM was normal in 11 of 12 patients. Staphylococcus aureus, coagulase-negative Staphylococcus species, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, known to be "tagged" by MBL, were the most common organisms grown on culture. Treatments included culture directed systemic antimicrobial therapy and topical steroids/antibiotics. CONCLUSION: Mannose-binding lectin, an important component of the lectin complement pathway and innate immunity, is possibly associated with recalcitrant adult rhinosinusitis. Steroid/antibiotic irrigations appear to benefit patients with recalcitrant rhinosinusitis and possibly those with MBL deficiency. Given that the prevalence of MBL deficiency in this case series is 4 times that seen in the normal population, additional investigations are warranted to further elucidate the role of MBL deficiency in rhinosinusitis.

Proton pump inhibitor therapy improves symptoms in postnasal drainage.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Gastroesophageal reflux is common among patients with postnasal drainage. We investigated whether proton pump inhibitor therapy improved symptoms in patients with postnasal drainage without sinusitis or allergies. METHODS: In a parallel-group, double-blind, multi-specialty trial, we randomly assigned 75 participants with continued symptoms of chronic postnasal drainage to groups that were given 30 mg of lansoprazole twice daily or placebo. Participants were followed up for 16 weeks. Symptoms were assessed at baseline and after 8 and 16 weeks. Ambulatory pH and impedance monitoring assessed presence of baseline reflux. The primary objective of the study was to determine if acid suppressive therapy improved postnasal drainage symptoms. The secondary objective was to assess if pH and impedance monitoring at baseline predicted response to treatment. RESULTS: Postnasal drainage symptoms improved significantly among patients given lansoprazole compared with placebo. After 8 and 16 weeks, participants given lansoprazole were 3.12-fold (1.28-7.59) and 3.50-fold (1.41-8.67) more likely to respond, respectively, than participants given placebo. After 16 weeks, median (interquartile) percent symptom improvements were 50.0% (10.0%-72.0%) for participants given lansoprazole and 5.0% (0.0%-40.0%) for participants given placebo (P = .006). Neither baseline presence of typical reflux symptoms nor esophageal physiologic parameters predicted response to therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Among participants with chronic postnasal drainage without evidence of sinusitis and allergies, twice-daily therapy with proton pump inhibitors significantly improved symptoms after 8 and 16 weeks. The presence of heartburn, regurgitation, abnormal levels of esophageal acid, or nonacid reflux did not predict response to therapy.

Cranial nerve V2 and Vidian nerve trauma secondary to lateral pterygoid recess encephalocele repair.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of adverse sequelae related to trauma of cranial nerve V2 (V2) and the Vidian nerve (VN) during endoscopic pterygoid recess repair (PRR) of lateral sphenoid encephalocele is insufficiently reported in the medical literature. As part of our quality assessment and improvement program we sought to analyze the incidence and severity of V2 and VN injury during a 9-year experience (2010-2018) with PRR. METHODS: Hypoesthesia, paresthesia, and dry eye and their impact on patient quality of life were sought through chart review and a self-reported 0 to 5 Likert scale for each symptom. RESULTS: Thirty-five patients underwent repair of spontaneous cerebrospinal-fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea, with 11 consecutive patients undergoing endoscopic PRR. Mean follow-up for PRR was 32.5 months (range, 2.4 to 103.3 months). Although definitive management resulted in 100% success, 1 required secondary treatment. Eight patients were available for long-term follow-up (72.7%) and completed a symptom severity questionnaire using a Likert-scale. All patients observed either hypoesthesia, paresthesia, or dry eye of varying gradation (scale, 0 to 5). None described disabling symptoms, and some reported gradual improvement. Numbness, paresthesia, and dry eye were reported by 6 of 8 (75%), 5 of 8 (62.5%), and 4 of 8 (50%) patients, respectively. The mean Likert score among the 8 patients who completed this questionnaire noticing hypoesthesia, paresthesia, and dry eye was 2.6, 1.3, and 1.8, respectively. CONCLUSION: Meticulous surgical technique is paramount for successful PRR and minimizing nerve injury, yet the anatomic variation of the lateral pterygoid recess can be challenging, and neural injury is a real risk. Preoperatively, patients should be counseled that although V2 or VN injury is common, most patients describe resulting symptoms to be rarely bothersome.

Isolated leptomeningeal progression from sinonasal carcinomas: Implications for staging workup and treatment.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the rate and risk factors of isolated leptomeningeal progression in sinonasal carcinomas. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed imaging and clinical records to determine progression patterns, and estimated rates using the Kaplan-Meier method. We evaluated risk factors using proportional hazard regression. RESULTS: We analyzed 120 patients who received adjuvant or primary radiotherapy for sinonasal carcinomas. Most patients had T4 disease (68%) and underwent surgery (84%) and chemotherapy (72%). Twenty-seven (23%) patients developed distant metastases (DM), including 20 (17%) with isolated DMs. Leptomeningeal progression was the most common site of isolated DMs (n = 9; 45%) with an average disease-free interval of 1.2 years (0.1-4.3 years). High-grade histology (P = 0.0003), intracranial invasion (P < 0.0001), and neuroendocrine histology (P = 0.06) were associated with increased risk. CONCLUSIONS: Isolated leptomeningeal progression is a common pattern of DM in advanced sinonasal carcinomas. We recommend adding cerebrospinal fluid cytology and contrast-enhanced spine MRI to routine staging evaluations for high-risk patients.

Prospective analysis of epicutaneous testing for inhalant allergy: comparison of arm and back subsites with mRAST.

OBJECTIVES: 1) To compare epicutaneous testing (ET) from four skin subsites (forearm, upper arm, upper back, lower back) and 2) to compare ET to modified RAST (mRAST) for inhalant allergens. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective clinical trial. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Fifty one patients underwent ET at four skin subsites and mRAST to six antigens and positive and negative controls. RESULTS: The forearm and upper back showed best sensitivity to positive controls and all subsites demonstrated similar specificity to negative controls. The forearm and upper back demonstrated best sensitivity and specificity for most antigens. No statistically significant differences were noted for antigen sensitivity and specificity for the four subsites. ET and mRAST agreed best on D. farinae and timothy grass and least on short ragweed and dog epithelium. CONCLUSION: This study confirms that forearm and upper back demonstrate very good sensitivity and specificity for positive and negative controls and most tested antigens. This has important diagnostic implications for clinical practice of inhalant allergy.

Esthesioneuroblastoma: 25-year experience at a single institution.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate outcomes for patients with esthesioneuroblastoma treated at a single institution during a 25-year period. DESIGN: Eighteen patients with pathologic diagnosis of esthesioneuroblastoma between 1980 and 2004 were retrospectively identified. RESULTS: Two patients had Kadish A, seven had Kadish B, and nine had Kadish C disease. The mean follow-up was 71 months. Treatment regimens consisted of surgery alone (four patients), surgery followed by postoperative radiation (six patients), surgery followed by postoperative chemoradiotherapy (three patients), preoperative radiotherapy (two patients), preoperative chemoradiotherapy (one patient), chemoradiotherapy (one patient), and surgery plus chemotherapy (one patient). Surgical approaches (n = 17) consisted of 13 traditional craniofacial resections, one endoscopic-assisted cranionasal resection, and three minimally invasive endoscopic resections. The 10-year disease-specific survival was 80%. The overall recurrence-free survival at five and 10 years was 62% and 46%, respectively. Positive surgical margins and TNM staging predicted survival. CONCLUSION: Both endoscopic and open surgical approaches have been successful in treating a small number of esthesioneuroblastoma patients with high survival and low rate of surgical complications.

Surgical outcomes of drillout procedures for complex frontal sinus pathology.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this report is two-fold: 1) to determine the incidence and 2) to determine the efficacy of drillout procedures in the management of frontal sinus disease in a tertiary rhinology practice. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective data analysis. METHODS: Chart review was performed for all patients undergoing frontal sinus surgery from May 1999 to April 2004. The incidence of drillout surgery was determined. Demographic data, symptomatology, type of drillout procedure, and primary pathology were determined. Postoperative outcome was assessed based on subjective symptomatology and objective endoscopic patency. RESULTS: A total of 186 patients underwent 207 frontal sinus procedures during this time period; 25 patients (13.4%) required a total of 30 (14.5%) drillout procedures. The patient population had previously undergone an average of 3.2 procedures; four cases were primary and 26 were revision procedures. The breakdown of the procedures was as follows: Draf III, 17; Draf IIB, 7; and transseptal frontal sinusotomy, 6. The major indications included mucoceles (11 cases), chronic frontal sinusitis (6 cases), and tumors (5 cases). Postoperatively, presenting symptomatology resolved in 32%, improved in 56%, and remained unchanged in 12% of the patients. Endoscopic patency of the neo-ostium was noted in 23 cases (92%). Average follow-up was 16.3 months. CONCLUSIONS: In this series, drillout procedures were successfully used in 25 patients as an important adjunct to the standard endoscopic techniques for management of complex frontal sinus disease. Because the procedure was used only 30 times during a 5-year period, it was reserved for specific circumstances in carefully selected patients.

Rhinosinusitis: Developing guidance for clinical trials.

The Rhinosinusitis Initiative was developed by 5 national societies. The current guidance document is an expansion of the 2004 publication, "Rhinosinusitis: Establishing definitions for clinical research and patient care" and provides templates for clinical trials in antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and symptom-relieving therapies for the following: (1) acute presumed bacterial rhinosinusitis, (2) chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) without nasal polyps, (3) CRS with nasal polyps, and (4) classic allergic fungal rhinosinusitis. In addition to the templates for clinical trials and proposed study designs, the Rhinosinusitis Initiative has developed 6 appendices, which address (1) health outcomes, (2) nasal endoscopy and staging of CRS, (3) radiologic imaging, (4) microbiology, (5) laboratory measures, and (6) biostatistical methods.

Fungus and chronic rhinosinusitis: from bench to clinical understanding.

Although fungus-related sinusitis has been described for at least 2 centuries, a more detailed pathologic description of the problem as it relates to eosinophilic disease was not detailed until 1983, when "allergic fungal sinusitis" was described histopathologically. Until then, most fungal sinus disease was perceived to occur in immunosuppressed diabetic patients with invasive fungus. It is now acknowledged that depending upon the immune status of the host, fungus-related sinus disease can take several forms. Interest in this subject matter was intensified in 1999, when it was suggested that fungi might be an important cause of most cases of chronic rhinosinusitis. This hypothesis remains controversial, and there is mounting evidence to support the multifactorial nature of chronic rhinosinusitis, which may include fungus. In fact, etiologic factors for all forms of fungus-related sinus disease are still poorly understood. The prevalence of the disease and the dominant fungal pathogen appear to vary in different geographic regions and probably are related to individual host conditions. Immunoglobulin E-mediated allergic reactions to mold appear to be associated with disease in some patients, but not in all. Although antifungal therapy is known to be lifesaving for invasive disease, its role in extramucosal disease is less well defined. Preliminary trials suggest that some systemic and topical antifungal agents are of clinical benefit in extramucosal disease. Since sinus fungi are rarely invasive in immunocompetent individuals, it is not clear whether the effects of the antifungal treatments are a result of the antifungal action itself, or due to additional properties these drugs possess. This review summarizes the available data and presents some of our clinical and experimental findings as to the role of fungus in chronic rhinosinusitis.

Outcomes of Sinonasal Cancer Treated With Proton Therapy.

PURPOSE: To report disease outcomes after proton therapy (PT) for sinonasal cancer. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Eighty-four adult patients without metastases received primary (13%) or adjuvant (87%) PT for sinonasal cancers (excluding melanoma, sarcoma, and lymphoma). Common histologies were olfactory neuroblastoma (23%), squamous cell carcinoma (22%), and adenoid cystic carcinoma (17%). Advanced stage (T3 in 25% and T4 in 69%) and high-grade histology (51%) were common. Surgical procedures included endoscopic resection alone (45%), endoscopic resection with craniotomy (12%), or open resection (30%). Gross residual disease was present in 26% of patients. Most patients received hyperfractionated PT (1.2 Gy [relative biological effectiveness (RBE)] twice daily, 99%) and chemotherapy (75%). The median PT dose was 73.8 Gy (RBE), with 85% of patients receiving more than 70 Gy (RBE). Prognostic factors were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier analysis and proportional hazards regression for multiple regression. Dosimetric parameters were evaluated using logistic regression. Serious, late grade 3 or higher toxicity was reported using the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 4. The median follow-up was 2.4 years for all patients and 2.7 years among living patients. RESULTS: The local control (LC), neck control, freedom from distant metastasis, disease-free survival, cause-specific survival, and overall survival rates were 83%, 94%, 73%, 63%, 70%, and 68%, respectively, at 3 years. Gross total resection and PT resulted in a 90% 3-year LC rate. The 3-year LC rate was 61% for primary radiation therapy and 59% for patients with gross disease. Gross disease was the only significant factor for LC on multivariate analysis, whereas grade and continuous LC were prognostic for overall survival. Six of 12 local recurrences were marginal. Dural dissemination represented 26% of distant recurrences. Late toxicity occurred in 24% of patients (with grade 3 or higher unilateral vision loss in 2%). CONCLUSIONS: Dose-intensified, hyperfractionated PT with or without concurrent chemotherapy results in excellent LC after gross total resection, and results in patients with gross disease are encouraging. Patients with high-grade histology are at greater risk of death from distant dissemination. Continuous LC is a major determinant of survival justifying aggressive local therapy in nearly all cases.

International Consensus Statement on Allergy and Rhinology: Rhinosinusitis.

BACKGROUND: The body of knowledge regarding rhinosinusitis(RS) continues to expand, with rapid growth in number of publications, yet substantial variability in the quality of those presentations. In an effort to both consolidate and critically appraise this information, rhinologic experts from around the world have produced the International Consensus Statement on Allergy and Rhinology: Rhinosinusitis (ICAR:RS). METHODS: Evidence-based reviews with recommendations(EBRRs) were developed for scores of topics, using previously reported methodology. Where existing evidence was insufficient for an EBRR, an evidence-based review (EBR)was produced. The sections were then synthesized and the entire manuscript was then reviewed by all authors for consensus. RESULTS: The resulting ICAR:RS document addresses multiple topics in RS, including acute RS (ARS), chronic RS (CRS)with and without nasal polyps (CRSwNP and CRSsNP), recurrent acute RS (RARS), acute exacerbation of CRS (AECRS), and pediatric RS. CONCLUSION: As a critical review of the RS literature, ICAR:RS provides a thorough review of pathophysiology and evidence-based recommendations for medical and surgical treatment. It also demonstrates the significant gaps in our understanding of the pathophysiology and optimal management of RS. Too often the foundation upon which these recommendations are based is comprised of lower level evidence. It is our hope that this summary of the evidence in RS will point out where additional research efforts may be directed.

Transnasal endoscopic resection of lesions of the clivus: a preliminary report.

OBJECTIVE: To review our experience with transnasal endoscopic resection of clival lesions. BACKGROUND: Because of the surrounding vital structures and the difficulties in achieving wide surgical exposure, the treatment of clival lesions is challenging. In an effort to overcome these obstacles, many centers use facial incisions and osteotomies to approach clival lesions. Minimally invasive endoscopic techniques have the potential to minimize morbidity while yielding similar surgical results. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with tumors involving the clivus that underwent endoscopic resection between 2000 and 2004 were identified. Charts were reviewed for clinical characteristics, previous therapies, diagnosis, tumor extent, management modalities, length of hospital stay, complications, and outcome. RESULTS: A total of six patients were identified. There were four males and two females with a mean age of 50 years, ranging from 29 to 66 years. The most common presenting symptoms were visual disturbances. Three patients had prior craniotomy with subtotal tumor resection. The pathology included three clival chordomas, and one each of meningioma, adenoid cystic carcinoma, and sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma. All patients were managed with computer-aided transnasal endoscopic tumor resection with neurosurgical standby or involvement. None of the patients required additional craniotomies. The mean follow-up was 13 (range, 8-24) months. Intensity-modulated radiation therapy was used in three patients, and two patients are currently undergoing proton beam radiation therapy (PBRT). The average length of hospital stay was 2 (range, 2-3) days. There were no major postoperative complications. At the last follow-up, five patients were alive with two patients being free of disease. Two patients with residual disease are currently undergoing PBRT, and one patient developed distant metastasis. One patient died of unrelated causes. CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary report suggests that transnasal endoscopic management of clival lesions is a viable option to traditional open approaches with acceptable morbidity and mortality. The use of computer-aided surgery further minimizes surgical risks while maximizing tumor resection.

Outcomes for endoscopic resection of sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: Preliminary data suggest efficacy for the endoscopic approach for sinonasal malignancy. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the endoscopic approach for the resection of sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of patients undergoing endoscopic resection of sinonasal SCC from August 1996 to May 2004. METHODS: Eleven patients were treated with curative intent. Demographic data, histopathology, extent of tumor involvement, and need for adjunctive radiation or chemotherapy were determined. Local recurrence (LR), distant metastasis, overall survival (OS), and disease-free survival (DFS) rates were calculated. RESULTS: The mean age for the patient population was 62.5 (52-85) years with a male:female ratio of 8:3. Multimodality therapy including radiation or chemotherapy was used in 8 of 11 (73%) patients. Seven patients were resected using strictly an endoscopic approach, whereas four required combined endoscopic and neurosurgical resection. LR and distant metastatic rates were 20% and 0%, respectively. OS and DFS were both 91%, with mean follow-up of 31.5 (range 6-88) months. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic resection in combination with multimodality therapy is an effective method for curative resection of sinonasal SCC. In this preliminary study, it facilitated complete resection with acceptable LR and DFS rates.

Comparison of delivery of topical medications to the paranasal sinuses via "vertex-to-floor" position and atomizer spray after FESS.

INTRODUCTION: Topical nasal medications are frequently employed for persistent sinonasal symptoms after functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) in chronic rhinosinusitis patients. The optimal means for the delivery of these medications is unclear. In this study, the efficacy of the vertex to floor (VF) position compared to atomizer spray was evaluated in post-FESS patients. METHODS: Three trials were performed: two trials in which patients maintained the VF position for 1 and 5 minutes, respectively, after nasal drop administration were compared to a third trial utilizing an atomizer spray in the upright position. Two independent observers rated the distribution of fluorescein-dyed dexamethasone drops at 5 sinonasal sites: maxillary sinus (MS), ethmoid cavity (EC), frontal recess (FR), sphenoid sinus (SS), and olfactory cleft (OC). RESULTS: VF position consistently delivered nasal drops to the MS, EC, SS, and OC. The atomizer distributed drops to the MS, EC, SS, and FR. The greatest difference was noted with the nasal drops in the olfactory cleft in the VF position; statistical significance was achieved with ANOVA testing (P = 0.012). Student's paired t test comparing trial 1 to 2, 1 to 3, and 2 to 3 demonstrated greater distribution in the OC at 5 minutes compared with 1 minute and spray (P = 0.042 and 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: The VF position and atomizer spray were both effective in delivery of the dexamethasone drops to the paranasal sinuses. This has significant implications for management of patients suffering from recalcitrant chronic rhinosinusitis and/or sinonasal polyposis through the delivery of topical medications to the paranasal sinuses and olfactory cleft. EBM RATING: C.

Isolated sphenoid sinus disease: etiology and management.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the diagnosis and management of isolated sphenoid sinus disease by using the current rhinologic standard of care. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. RESULTS: Fifty sequential, symptomatic patients were studied. Presenting symptoms included headache or facial pain (88%), rhinorrhea (46%), and nasal congestion (26%). All patients underwent CT imaging, demonstrating bony changes or dehiscences (42%), a mass (24%), or complete opacification of the sphenoid sinus (22%). Eighty percent required surgical intervention. The most frequent diagnoses were as follows: sinusitis (38%), fungal ball (20%), neoplasm (16%), and mucocele (12%). Treatment resulted in clinical or endoscopic improvement or resolution in 87% of the patients. CONCLUSION: The presenting symptoms of isolated sphenoid sinus disease can be nonspecific and may result in an inordinate delay in diagnosis. Nasal endoscopy and radiologic imaging are central to making an accurate and timely diagnosis. Medical treatment or minimally invasive surgical techniques can successfully manage the majority of patients with persistent or refractory symptoms.

Is nasal packing necessary following endoscopic sinus surgery?

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: To determine the necessity of nasal packing or hemostatic agents or both following endoscopic sinus surgery. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review of cases in a tertiary care sinus practice at an academic medical center. METHODS: Records of 165 patients undergoing 169 endoscopic sinus surgeries were reviewed to determine the presence of adjunctive nasal procedures, the use of nasal packing or hemostatic agents or both, blood loss during surgery, and the incidence of bleeding complications following surgery. RESULTS: The median estimated blood loss during surgery was 50.0 mL (range, 5-1000 mL). In four surgeries (2.4%) hemostatic agents were placed in the nose at the conclusion of surgery, 19 (11.2%) had packing, and 147 (87.0%) had no material left in the nose. No patients had bleeding complications postoperatively. There was a significant decrease in the use of packing or hemostatic agents or both over time. CONCLUSION: Placement of nasal packing or other hemostatic agents or both within the nasal cavity is not necessary in the majority of endoscopic sinus surgeries. The risks, costs, and discomforts associated with these interventions can often be avoided.

Software-enabled CT analysis of optic nerve position and paranasal sinus pneumatization patterns.

OBJECTIVE: Delineate the relationships among the optic nerve (CN II), the sphenoid sinus, and the sphenoethmoid cell. STUDY DESIGN: High-resolution CT scans of 64 frozen human cadavers were obtained on a Siemens VolumeZoom CT scanner (Munich, Germany) and transferred to a CBYON Suite Doctor Station version 2.6 (CBYON, Mountain View CA) for standardized review. RESULTS: Pneumatization around CN II was categorized into 5 types: no adjacent pneumatization (type 0), pneumatization adjacent to CN II (type 1), adjacent pneumatization with indentation (type 2), pneumatization of <50% CN II circumference (type 3), and pneumatization of >50% CN II circumference (type 4). The prevalence of types 0 to 4 CN II position relative to the sphenoid sinus was 4.7%, 25.8%, 39.8%, 14.1%, and 15.6%, respectively. The prevalence of sphenoethmoid cells was 28.1%. The prevalences of types 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 CN II positions relative to the sphenoethmoid cell was 5.6%, 58.3%, 25%, 2.8%, and 8.3% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Software-enabled CT review facilitated precise study of the anatomic relationships of CN II. Caution must be exercised during sinonasal surgery to minimize the risk of inadvertent CN II injury. EBM RATING: D.

Endoscopic and endoscope-assisted resections of inverted sinonasal papillomas.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the success of endoscopic and endoscope-assisted resection of inverted sinonasal papillomas and to assess the indications for adjunctive external procedures. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. RESULTS: Fifty patients were treated surgically during the 10-year study period and had greater than 1 year of follow-up care. These patients had a recurrence rate of 14% (7/50) with a mean follow-up of 31.1 months. Of these 7 patients with recurrences, 3 were treated primarily at this institution, and 4 had been treated prior to referral. Recurrence was 11% (3/27) for primary resections and 17% (4/23) for secondary resections. Average time to recurrence was 11.7 months. Of the patients, 38% (19/50) had adjunctive external procedures either during the initial resection or for the management of recurrent disease. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic and endoscope-assisted resections of inverted papilloma are effective techniques for managing inverted papilloma. The intraoperative findings, most importantly the site(s) of tumor attachment, dictate whether an endoscopic procedure is sufficient to complete resect the inverted papilloma or whether an adjunctive external procedure is required. Appropriate patient selection and an aggressive surgical approach are necessary for the management of these neoplasms.

Diagnosis of chronic rhinosinusitis.

Chronic rhinosinusitis is a multifactorial disease defined as inflammation of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses with a history of at least 12 weeks in duration. The major symptoms include facial pressure or pain, nasal obstruction, discharge or purulence, and hyposmia or anosmia. The minor symptoms include fever, halitosis, fatigue, and dental pain. Microorganisms play a significant role in the persistence and origination of the inflammatory process, although the exact role of these organisms in the pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis is unclear. The clinical diagnosis relies heavily on the patient history and physical examination, which may include nasal endoscopy and computed tomography. Diagnostic techniques are here reviewed.