Isolated sphenoid sinus changes--history, CT and endoscopic finding.

This study reviews the records of 21 patients with isolated sphenoid sinus disease who were treated by rigid endoscopic sphenoidotomy at the Nose and Sinus Unit, Department of Otolaryngology of Beilinson Medical Center, Israel. Diagnosis was made on the basis of history, rigid nasal endoscopy and computed tomography (CT) scan. The most frequent symptom was headache; no instances of 'pathognomonic' headache were found. Sphenoidotomy was performed through the area of the natural ostium. The pathological finding was infection in 11 patients, cyst in four patients, polyps in three patients, mucocoele in two, and inverted papilloma in one patient. Surgical results were very good. Endoscopic sphenoidotomy proved to be safe, with minimal blood loss, reduced operating time, decreased morbidity, and short post-operative hospitalization.