Oral corticosteroid use and the risk of developing avascular necrosis: A large retrospective review.

INTRODUCTION: The risk of adverse events, specifically avascular necrosis (AVN), associated with corticosteroid use is not well reported. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of AVN among patients with prior oral corticosteroid administration. METHODS: An institutional database query recognized 113,734 adult patients with oral corticosteroid administration between January 2006 and May 2017. A temporal query performed on this cohort determined that 789 had a diagnosis of AVN following oral corticosteroids. A retrospective review was performed on this cohort. Data collected included demographics, comorbidities, date of initial oral corticosteroid exposure, and time to diagnosis of AVN. Records without radiographic confirmation of AVN were excluded from analysis. Patients with cumulative lifetime dosages greater than 10,000 mg prednisone were excluded from analysis. RESULTS: A total of 789 patients with oral corticosteroid use prior to diagnosis of AVN were identified. Five hundred and seventy-two patients were excluded due to insufficient documentation of oral corticosteroid dosage, no radiographic evidence supporting the diagnosis of AVN, insufficient data confirming the temporal relationship between oral corticosteroids and AVN, and/or a cumulative dosing of >10,000 mg prednisone. This left 217 patients included in the analysis. The mean duration of use prior to diagnosis of AVN was 219 (± 374) days, and mean cumulative dose was 3314 (± 2908) mg prednisone equivalents. Mean time between diagnosis of AVN and onset of pathologic fracture was 379 (± 1046) days. CONCLUSION: For patients receiving low cumulative doses of oral corticosteroids, corticosteroids pose a small risk of development of AVN. More studies are required to better characterize risk.

Surgical Field Visualization during Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery: Comparison of Propofol- vs Desflurane-Based Anesthesia.

OBJECTIVE: To assess if the type of general anesthetic affects bleeding and field visualization during endoscopic sinus surgery. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, controlled trial. SETTING: Academic teaching hospital and Veterans Affairs hospital in the United States. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Seventy patients were randomized to 1 of 3 anesthetic regimens: (1) the volatile anesthetic desflurane (n = 22), (2) intravenous anesthesia with propofol (n = 25), or (3) a combination of propofol and desflurane (n = 23). Intravenous remifentanil was titrated to decrease the mean arterial pressure to 60 to 70 mm Hg but not ≥30% from baseline. Surgical bleeding scores were recorded along with bleeding rates and hemodynamic parameters, including cardiac output and systemic vascular resistance through pulse contour analysis from a radial arterial line. Statistics: multiple comparison tests and regression analyses; α = .05. RESULTS: There were no differences in bleeding rate (median, 0.58, 0.85, 0.57 mL min-1), bleeding score (2.1, 2.0, 2.0), surgery duration (79, 81, 86 minutes), extubation time (9, 7, 8 minutes), recovery room time (65, 61, 61 minutes), or any hemodynamic parameters among groups 1 through 3, respectively. Group 1 required lower remifentanil infusions than group 2 (0.11 vs 0.26 µg kg-1 min-1; P = .01). The bleeding score correlated positively with height (P = .014) and the Lund-MacKay score (P = .013). Bilateral vs unilateral surgery led to longer surgery duration (P = .001) and recovery room time (P = .004). CONCLUSION: When remifentanil is used for controlled hypotension, propofol has no advantage over desflurane to improve surgical field visualization during functional endoscopic sinus surgery.

Correlation of salivary and nasal lavage pepsin with MII-pH testing.

OBJECTIVES: Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) is a common upper airway disease. Salivary pepsin is a proposed marker for LPR; however, the optimal time for collection of specimens for pepsin detection and pepsin's presence in the oral and nasal secretions relative to concurrent multichannel intraluminal impedance-pH (MII-pH) monitoring are unknown. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective case-control study with an experimental design. METHODS: Patients undergoing MII-pH testing for evaluation of LPR and asymptomatic control subjects were selected. Nasal lavage and saliva samples were collected in the clinic prior to MII-pH probe placement. Additional saliva samples were obtained an hour after each meal and upon waking the following morning. Nasal lavage and salivary pepsin were measured by ELISA. RESULTS: Twenty-six patients undergoing MII-pH testing and 13 reflux-free control patients were enrolled. Salivary pepsin was detected in 11 of 26 patients with suspected LPR and 0 of 13 controls. Pepsin was most frequently detected in the specimen provided upon waking at an average concentration of 186.9 ng/mL. A significant correlation was observed between salivary pepsin in waking samples to MII-pH measurements, including reflux bolus duration, and proximal and distal recumbent reflux episodes (P < 0.05). A significant correlation was also observed between salivary pepsin upon waking or sinus lavage and reflux symptom index (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Pepsin in salivary and nasal lavage samples demonstrated an association with MII-pH-documented LPR. Pepsin detection was most frequent in morning samples, supporting use of morning salivary pepsin levels as a potential noninvasive technique for LPR diagnosis. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2 Laryngoscope, 130:961-966, 2020.

Odontogenic sinusitis: A review of the current literature.

OBJECTIVES: To present current literature on the topic of odontogenic sinusitis. DATA SOURCE: PubMed literature search for odontogenic sinusitis. RESULTS: Odontogenic sinusitis is an inflammatory condition of the paranasal sinuses that is the result of dental pathology, most often resulting from prior dentoalveolar procedures, infections of maxillary dentition, or maxillary dental trauma. Infections are often polymicrobial with an anaerobe-predominant microbiome requiring special considerations for antimicrobial therapy. Medical management and treatment of the underlying dental pathology remains a critical initial step in the treatment of odontogenic sinusitis, however recent literature suggests that a significant portion of patients may require endoscopic sinus surgery for successful disease resolution. CONCLUSIONS: This review describes the essential epidemiological and etiological factors, relevant clinical findings and diagnostic modalities, microbiologic and antimicrobial considerations, as well as the medical and surgical treatment approaches commonly utilized for the management of odontogenic sinusitis. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA.

Advances in Surgery: Extended Procedures for Sinonasal Polyp Disease.

In the standard functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) procedure, the amount of dissection is often determined by the extent of disease with the goal to preserve as much normal mucosa as possible while restoring ventilation and reestablishing mucociliary clearance. A subset of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP), however, may continue to have persistent mucosal inflammatory and aggressive polyp regrowth despite standard FESS and maximal pharmacology therapy, leading to recurrent and recalcitrant disease. Advanced endoscopic surgery techniques such as the modified endoscopic medial maxillectomy, endoscopic modified Lothrop procedure, otherwise known as a Draf 3 frontal sinusotomy, and nasalisation or radical ethmoidectomy are extensive surgical procedures to maximize disease clearance while providing sizeable drainage pathways for effective postoperative surveillance and topical delivery of medications. Studies have shown a decreased risk of revision surgery as well as a longer time interval for revision surgery in patients with refractory CRSwNP who have undergone extensive sinus surgery for polyps.

Venous malformation of the ethmoid and sphenoid sinuses.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to present a rare case of a venous malformation that occupied the ethmoid and sphenoid sinuses. Prior to resection, it was believed to be a hemangioma. METHODS: This study includes a case report and review of the literature. CONCLUSION: There is often confusion between "hemangiomas" and "vascular malformations," but they are important to differentiate because they have unique approaches to treatment. Venous malformations in the paranasal sinuses are very rare. To our knowledge, this is the first case report that explicitly describes a venous malformation in the ethmoid and sphenoid sinuses. It was treated using endoscopic sinus surgery with intraoperative computer-assisted stereotactic navigation.

The Impact of Pepsin on Human Nasal Epithelial Cells In Vitro: A Potential Mechanism for Extraesophageal Reflux Induced Chronic Rhinosinusitis.

OBJECTIVES: To describe potential mechanisms by which pepsin induces inflammation in refractive chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Our hypothesis was that pepsin induces mitochondrial damage and cytokine expression in human nasal epithelial cells (HNEpC) in vitro. METHODS: Western blot was used to detect pepsin in sinus lavages from patients with CRS and controls. The HNEpC cells were treated with pepsin (pH 7; 0.1 mg/mL) for 1 or 16 hours and routine electron microscopy (EM) and MTT assay were performed. Cytokine ELISA was performed on media collected from HNEpC cells 16 hours following a 1-hour pepsin treatment. RESULTS: Pepsin was detected in sinus lavages from 4 out of 6 CRS patients and 0 out of 3 controls. The EM showed mitochondrial damage in pepsin-treated HNEpC cells but not in control cells. The MTT assay demonstrated reduced mitochondrial activity in pepsin-treated HNEpC cells compared to controls (P < .001). Pepsin increased IL-1A (P = .003) and IL-6 (P = .04) expression in HNEpC cells. CONCLUSIONS: Pepsin in sinus lavages from patients with CRS is consistent with previous studies. This study reveals the damaging effect of pepsin on mitochondria in nasal epithelial cells in vitro. Cytokines previously associated with CRS were elevated following pepsin treatment of HNEpC cells in vitro. These results demonstrate mechanisms by which pepsin may potentiate CRS.

Odontogenic sinusitis: a case series studying diagnosis and management.

BACKGROUND: Odontogenic sinusitis is a well-recognized, but understudied form of sinusitis. Odontogenic sinusitis requires unique diagnostic criteria and a treatment regimen that differs from non-odontogenic sinusitis. The purpose of this article is to present a case series of patients with odontogenic sinusitis in order to clarify key disease characteristics and management techniques. METHODS: Retrospective case series of 55 patients with odontogenic sinusitis. Each patient underwent chart and imaging review to analyze demographic factors, diagnostic criteria, clinical course, and management. RESULTS: Fifty-five patients were identified retrospectively. Forty-four were diagnosed at initial visit. Twenty-eight (64%) of these patients were diagnosed by computed tomography (CT) scan showing dental pathology, 11 (25%) by known temporal relationship to a dental procedure, and 5 (11%) by presentation with oral-antral fistula. Only 65% of radiology reports for all patients mentioned dental pathology. Overall, 21 (38%) patients had disease resolution. Of these, 7 (33%) resolved with endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) alone, 7 (33%) resolved with concurrent ESS and dental surgery, 2 (10%) resolved with dental surgery alone, 2 (10%) resolved with ESS after failing dental surgery, 2 (10%) resolved with medical management alone, and 1 (5%) resolved with medical management after failing dental surgery. Forty-six (84%) patients had unilateral odontogenic sinusitis. The Lund-Mackay score for all patients was (mean ± standard deviation [SD]) 4.0 ± 3.2. CONCLUSION: Odontogenic sinusitis is often misdiagnosed. Radiology reports commonly do not mention dental pathology. Management of odontogenic sinusitis needs to be tailored to each individual patient and involves varying combinations of medical management, dental surgery, and ESS.

Intractable epistaxis due to isolated primary telangiectasias.

IMPORTANCE: Epistaxis is the most common otolaryngologic emergency in the United States. Most cases are controlled with first-line measures, but intractable epistaxis can be a challenging clinical problem requiring posterior nasal packing and surgical or endovascular intervention. Bleeding from nasal telangiectasias is well known in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia, but there are no reports in the literature of recurrent epistaxis due to isolated telangiectasias not associated with systemic disease. This report describes a series of cases in which intractable epistaxis due to isolated primary telangiectasias was effectively controlled with bipolar electrosurgery. OBSERVATIONS: We describe a patient with intractable epistaxis that had failed management with posterior packing and embolization. We also report a series of 16 cases of epistaxis, 6 of which were intractable, in adults without hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia who received treatment between 2009 and 2012. These cases reveal a common pattern of bleeding from telangiectasias on the anterior septum (8 cases [42%]), nasal sidewall (3 [16%]), inferior meatus (2 [10%]), posterior septum (2 [10%]), nasal floor (2 [10%]), middle turbinate (1 [5%]), and inferior turbinate (1 [5%]). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Telangiectasias not associated with systemic disease are a previously unreported source of significant nasal bleeding that, when identified endoscopically, can be treated successfully with bipolar electrosurgery rather than with more invasive and costly surgical and endovascular measures.

Use of coblation in resection of juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma.

We present a series of 4 patients with juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma (JNA) who underwent Coblation-assisted endoscopic resection after preoperative embolization, and discuss the use and advantages of endoscopic Coblation-assisted resection of JNA. Our limited case series suggests that Coblation may be used in the resection of JNA after embolization in a relatively safe, efficient, and effective manner. Coblation allows for decreased bleeding, less need for instrumentation, and improved visualization. There are limited published data in the literature to date on the use of Coblation in endoscopic JNA resection. We describe its use in a more extensive tumor than those previously reported. Further studies are needed to fully define the safety and utility of Coblation technology for this application.

Quality of surgical field during endoscopic sinus surgery: a systematic literature review of the effect of total intravenous compared to inhalational anesthesia.

BACKGROUND: Adequate surgical field visualization is imperative for successful outcomes in endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). The type of anesthetic administered can alter a patient's hemodynamics and impact endoscopic visualization during surgery. We review the current evidence regarding the effect of total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) compared to inhalational anesthesia (INA) on visualization of the surgical field during ESS. METHODS: A systematic review of the literature was performed. Ovid MEDLINE, Scopus, and Cochrane databases were searched from 1946 to January 2012. Citations from the primary search were reviewed and filtered to identify all relevant abstracts in English. Articles meriting full review included prospective controlled trials enrolling adult patients undergoing ESS that were randomized to a group receiving INA or TIVA with outcome measures focused on surgical field visualization. RESULTS: Seven eligible trials fulfilled inclusion criteria. Four of the 7 demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in surgical field grade during ESS when receiving TIVA compared with INA. However, detailed INA concentrations were often not provided. High levels of INA may have been administered; therefore, side effects of INA rather than effects of an ideal INA administration were possibly represented. Analgesic administration also varied widely among the anesthetic groups, further complicating interpretation of study results. The lack of power and the heterogeneity of the studies precluded a formal meta-analysis. CONCLUSION: Although several studies reported that TIVA improves surgical conditions in ESS, there are significant limitations. These findings prevent any definite recommendation at this point, emphasizing the need for further high-quality studies.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and rhinosinusitis: the utility of screening sinus computed tomography.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: To compare prehematopoietic stem cell transplantation (SCT) sinus computed tomography (CT) scans to post-SCT sinus CT scans and to evaluate the relationship between pre-SCT sinus CT scans and the incidence of otolaryngology consultation after SCT. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. METHODS: Charts of 228 adult SCT patients from January 2003 to June 2009 with pre-SCT sinus CT scans were reviewed. Data gathered included diagnosis, type of SCT, otolaryngology referral requests, and rhinosinusitis management. Pre- and post-SCT sinus CT scans were scored using the staging system introduced by Lund and Mackay. RESULTS: Two hundred thirty-nine SCTs were performed on the 228 patients included in this study. No disease was identified on 25.1% of pre-SCT CT scans, mild sinus inflammation was identified on 60.7% of scans, 11.3% had moderate inflammation, and 2.9% had severe inflammation. Pre-SCT scans were found to be predictive of post-SCT CT scans. A significant proportion of patients demonstrated worsening of their Lund-Mackay score post-SCT. Pre-SCT CT scores had no predictive ability for otolaryngology consultations. CONCLUSIONS: Pre-SCT CT scan scores are associated with post-SCT scan scores; disease severity on CT may worsen following SCT and may be useful for stratifying patients into surgical versus non-surgical candidates. Further study is needed to outline the benefit of sinus surgery in these patients.

Granulocyte transfusions in fulminant invasive fungal sinusitis.

PURPOSE: Fulminant invasive fungal sinusitis (IFS) is an aggressive disease seen in patients who are severely neutropenic. The use of granulocyte transfusions to address neutropenia-associated IFS has been described for almost 2 decades. The objectives are to provide our experience using granulocyte transfusions in patients with IFS and to provide a current review of the literature. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed at the Medical College of Wisconsin to identify patients who received granulocyte transfusions for IFS. Data collected included age, original diagnosis, IFS pathogen, dates, transfusion number, reason for discontinuation, additional therapies, last known follow-up, and status at last known follow-up. A Medline search and manual review of citations within bibliographies was also performed. RESULTS: A total of 20 patients received granulocyte transfusions at the Medical College of Wisconsin between October 2003 and June 2009; 3 of these patients received granulocyte transfusions for fulminant IFS. A total of 22 reported cases of IFS treated with granulocyte transfusions exist in the current literature. CONCLUSIONS: Although limitations to the use of granulocyte transfusions exist, they still represent a viable treatment option in individuals who fail to respond to more conventional therapies.

The role of extraesophageal reflux in medically and surgically refractory rhinosinusitis.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: To clarify the relationship between chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and extraesophageal reflux (EER) using state-of-the-art technology. We hypothesized that patients with medically and surgically refractory CRS would have a greater prevalence of EER. We also hypothesized that there would be evidence of gastric refluxate reaching the nasopharynx and paranasal sinuses. STUDY DESIGN: Case-control analysis. METHODS: Twenty-two patients with medically and surgically refractory rhinosinusitis were enrolled in the study. Subjects all underwent comprehensive testing for EER including 24-hour pharyngeal pH probe, aerosolized nasopharyngeal pH testing, and nasopharyngeal tissue biopsy for pepsin analysis. In addition, the last five subjects underwent nasal lavage pepsin analysis. A control group of healthy subjects underwent the same nasal secretion pepsin analysis. RESULTS: Twenty subjects completed the study. The pharyngeal pH probe results were positive in 19/20 (95%), where the DeMeester score was positive in 9/19 (47%). The nasopharyngeal pH probe data were available in 17/20 patients and correlated poorly with the pharyngeal pH probe testing. In all 20 subjects, nasopharyngeal tissue biopsies were negative for pepsin. However, in the five subjects who underwent nasal lavage pepsin analysis, all were pepsin positive while five healthy control nasal lavage pepsin analysis were negative. CONCLUSIONS: This study supports an association of EER with medically and surgically refractory CRS. The finding of pepsin in nasal lavages suggests that direct contact of the refluxate with the paranasal sinus mucosa may play a role in the pathophysiology of CRS in this patient population. Finally, evaluation for pepsin in nasal fluid may be a viable method for determining the presence of refluxate in the nose and paranasal sinuses.

Sinonasal problems and reflux.

Extraesophageal reflux has been implicated in many disorders affecting the upper airway. This article reviews the recent literature regarding the relationship of refractory chronic rhinosinusitis with extraesophageal reflux. Recent studies have shown that patients with refractory chronic rhinosinusitis have an increased prevalence of extraesophageal reflux. An association may exist between gastroesophageal reflux and rhinosinusitis, especially in individuals with medically and surgically refractory disease. These studies have a poor level of evidence and data supporting causation are lacking. However, evaluation and treatment should be considered in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis, especially in those with refractory disease.

Determinants of outcomes of sinus surgery: a multi-institutional prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: 1) To measure the proportion of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) who experience clinically significant improvement after endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) in a prospective, multi-institutional fashion. 2) To identify preoperative characteristics that predict clinically significant improvement in quality of life (QOL) after ESS. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, multi-institutional cohort study. SETTING: Academic tertiary care centers. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 302 patients with CRS from three centers were enrolled between July 2004 and December 2008 and followed for an average of 17.4 months postoperatively. Preoperative patient characteristics, CT scan, endoscopy score, and pre- and postoperative quality of life (QOL) data were collected. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed. RESULTS: Patients improved an average of 15.8 percent (18.9 points) on the Rhinosinusitis Disability Index and 21.2 percent (21.2 points) on the Chronic Sinusitis Survey (both P < 0.001). Patients significantly improved on all eight Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 (SF-36) subscales (all P < 0.001). Among patients with poor baseline QOL, 71.7 percent of patients experienced clinically significant improvement on the RSDI and 76.1 percent on the CSS. Patients undergoing primary surgery were 2.1 times more likely to improve on the RSDI (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2, 3.4; P = 0.006) and 1.8 times more likely to improve on the CSS (95% CI, 1.1, 3.1; P = 0.020) compared with patients undergoing revision surgery. CONCLUSION: In this prospective, multi-institutional study, most patients experienced clinically significant improvement across multiple QOL outcomes after ESS. Specific patient characteristics provided prognostic value with regard to outcomes.

Peripheral cysts: a distinguishing feature of esthesioneuroblastoma with intracranial extension.

Esthesioneuroblastoma is a rare malignancy that arises in the olfactory epithelium. We report an interesting case of esthesioneuroblastoma in an 82-year-old man that included an unusual but characteristic imaging feature of this tumor: cysts at the tumor-brain interface. The patient declined primary surgical resection and elected to undergo primary radiation therapy. At 2 years of follow-up, he remained disease-free. The rarity of this tumor and its unique natural history can lead to a complicated assessment of the clinical picture. We review the diagnostic and treatment alternatives.