[Usefulness of simple paranasal sinus radiographs and axial computed tomography in the diagnosis of chronic sinusitis]. / Utilidad de la radiografía simple de senos paranasales y la tomografía axial computada en el diagnóstico de sinusitis crónica.

AIMS: A prospective, observational clinical trial is presented with the object of determining the frequency with which CT scans of the paranasal sinuses establish the diagnosis of chronic sinusitis in patients with symptoms of sinusitis but without alterations in the plain films of the paranasal sinuses. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 113 patients, 64 females and 49 males, with the clinical diagnosis of chronic sinusitis. All had plain films of the paranasal sinuses. CT scans of the paranasal sinuses were performed on all patients with negative findings on plane films. RESULTS: Of the 113 patients, 68 (60%) presented positive radiographic findings of chronic sinusitis on plain films. In the 45 remaining patients (39%) in which plain films were negative, CT scans of the paranasal sinuses were performed and demonstrated ethmoid sinusitis in all of them (100%). CONCLUSION: That CT scan is more sensitive in the diagnosis of ethmoid sinusitis as compared to plain films of the paranasal sinuses, due to the fact that ethmoid anatomy is better delineated by this method. Plain films of the paranasal sinuses are of lesser use in determining ethmoid anatomy due to the superposition of images that occurs in this technique.

[Asthma associated with gastroesophageal reflux]. / Asma asociada a reflujo gastroesofágico.

OBJECTIVE: In order to explore the association between poorly controllable asthma and gastroesophageal reflux (GER), a prospective clinical trial is presented. MATERIAL AND METHOD: This trial included 28 patients with negative atopic indicators who presented difficulty in the management of their disease. All patients underwent a complete medical history as well as skin tests for common airborne allergens, total serum IgE, peripheral blood eosinophils, spirometry, chest X-ray and esophageal barium films. Additionally, esophageal endoscopy was performed on 9 patients, and esophageal manometry in 1 patient. All were submitted to antireflux therapy and received omeprazole and cisapride for 8 weeks. RESULTS: Complete improvement was observed in 24 patients (85.7%), moderate improvement in 3 patients (10.7%), and no improvement in 1 patient (3.6%). Three patients required antireflux surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Symptoms reappeared 2-3 weeks after suspending treatment, which led to the recommendation that antireflux measures become a way of life for these patients.

[Determination of the eosinophil count in nasal mucus. Comparison of 2 techniques]. / Determinación de la cuenta de eosinófilos en moco nasal. Comparación de dos técnicas.

We compared swab and scraping (Rhino-probe) technics in the nasal cytology obtention for eosinophils count in 36 patients with a range of 2-46 years old (mean age 18.6 years) with diagnosis of Allergic Rhinitis. The eosinophil count with swab technic was between 0-79 cells with average of 6.5 cells and in the scraping (Rhino-probe) was in a rate of 0-100 cells with a average of 13.4 cells. Of the 36 patients with Rhinitis seen at our clinic, 13 (36%) of positive with swab and 19 (53%) with scraping technics (Rhino-probe) with percent differential of 17%. The comparison between the eosinophils count with both technics was p less than 0.05 for scraping (Rhino-probe) technic.