Clinical Evaluations of Sinonasal Infection in the Patients with Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / 대한이비인후과학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: As a result of increasing the use of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for hematologic malignancies and certain solid tumors, more patients have become susceptible to infection. Sinonasal infections in patients with HSCT frequently cause problems which are sometimes fatal. The purpose of this study is to determine the clinical features of sinonasal infections in the immunocompromised patients who received HSCT and to suggest a proper evaluation of these patients. MATERIALS AND METHOD: We reviewed retrospectively 1814 patients who had received HSCT in St. Mary's hospital from August 1995 to May 2003 to determine the clinical features of sinonasal infections in these patients and to analyze the correlation between sinonasal infection of pre- and post-HSCT. RESULTS: 403 patients (22.2%) had sinonasal infections. The infection occurred before HSCT in 206 patients (11.3%), whereas it occurred after HSCT in 197 patients (10.8%). Of 197 patients (27.4%) 54 had previously sinonasal infections. CONCLUSION: Sinonasal infection in the patients of pre-HSCT increased incidence of post-HSCT sinonasal infection. Early detection using endoscopic examination and sinus computed tomography scan as well as employing an aggressive combined treatment of medical and surgical modalities are essential for the treatment of sinonasal infections in the HSCT patients.