Unilateral paranasal sinus diseases: analysis of the clinical characteristics, diagnosis, pathology, and computed tomography findings.

CONCLUSION

This study observed a much higher percentage of unilateral sinus pathology than reported in the literature. Comprehensive evaluations of patient age, presenting symptoms, nasoendoscopy examination, and computed tomography (CT) findings help in the diagnosis of unilateral sinus disease. Nevertheless, histological confirmation remains obligatory for diagnosis.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the clinical features, diagnosis, pathology, and CT findings in patients who had undergone sinus surgery for unilateral sinus diseases.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

Among 524 patients who had undergone sinus surgery, patients with unilateral sinus opacification on the preoperative CT scans were selected. Data were collected from the medical records and CT findings were evaluated.

RESULTS

Unilateral sinus opacification was identified in 121 (23.1%) patients. Male gender was predominant and the greatest number of patients had chronic rhinosinusitis. The mean age was oldest for fungus ball and youngest for antrochoanal polyp. Purulent discharge and foul odor were the common presenting symptoms under inflammatory conditions, while frequent epistaxis and cheek swelling were the main symptoms in neoplastic diseases. Calcifications were observed only in patients with fungus ball, while bony destruction was detected in both benign and malignant tumors. Punch biopsy performed in the office offered accurate histopathologic diagnosis in 94.3% of the patients.