American Journal of Rhinology & Allergy

The topical administration of steroids or antibiotics to the nose and the sinuses is one of the important postsurgical therapies of endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS).

To investigate the effective deposition of aerosols in the paranasal sinuses after ESS, we restored the human nasosinus model that underwent ESS and studied the particle depositions on the ostiomeatal complex (OMC), maxillary, and ethmoid sinuses quantitatively.

A 45° nozzle insertion angle significantly increased the particle depositions more than the 30° angle (p < 0.05). A computer simulation-assisted analysis shows that the inertial deposition at OMC increased with a nozzle angle of 45° versus 30°. The particles with 5.63 mm in diameter significantly deposit on OMC and maxillary sinus compared with the particles with 16.37 mm (p < 0.05).

The topical administration of drugs to the paranasal sinuses postoperatively must be performed in consideration with aerodynamics of aerosols.

It has been postulated that fungal organisms might represent the immunologic target initiating and maintaining the disease process in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). The presence of fungi in nasal mucus has been established by different groups, but so far it has not been shown how the immune system could even recognize such extramucosal—extracorporal—fungal targets. The aim of this study was to determine whether fungal DNA is present in tissue specimens taken from patients with polypoid CRS.

Twenty-seven surgical specimens were collected from patients suffering from CRS. Fifteen surgical specimens from healthy ethmoidal mucosa served as controls. A second set of controls consisted of five surgical specimens of acoustic neuroma, which were included to rule out contamination within the protocol. All paranasal tissue samples were treated and rinsed carefully with a solution of Dithiothreitol to digest any nasal mucus and ensure that only tissue was examined. A highly sensitive two-step polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was applied to detect fungal DNA, using one universal primer for unspecific detection of fungal DNA and a second primer pair specific for Alternaria.

Fungal DNA was detected in all 27 CRS specimens equally with both PCR primers. Controls from healthy paranasal mucosa were positive using the panfungal primers in 10 of 15 cases but were all negative for Alternaria DNA. PCR was negative for fungal DNA in all five neuroma specimens.

Fungal DNA can be detected within sinonasal tissue specimens of patients suffering from CRS. These findings need to be discussed with respect to the proposed hypothesis of the immune system recognizing extramucosal organisms and initiating an immune response in sensitized patients.

When associated with lower airway involvement, the morbidity and the cost of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) can increase. The aim of this prospective study was to assess the clinical and radiological characteristics of the upper airways in CRS patients scheduled for functional endoscopic sinus surgery and to correlate these findings with the functional changes of the lower airways.

Twenty-five adult patients with CRS were subjected to clinical and endoscopic assessments, computed tomography scan, and allergic assessments using validated scoring systems. Lower airways were assessed by clinical history, pulmonary function test, histamine bronchial provocation test, and chest x rays.

Sixty percent of CRS patients were shown to have associated lower airway involvement, i.e., 24% had asthma and 36% had small airway disease (SAD). Nasal congestion and nasal polyps were the most common clinical findings in both of these subgroups of patients. In addition, there was a negative correlation between computed tomography scan findings of the sinuses and the obstructive parameters on pulmonary function test in SAD but not in the asthma subgroup.

These results showed that different kinds of lower airway involvement frequently could be associated with CRS. Some are manifest such as asthma and some are hidden such as SAD and histamine bronchial hyperresponsiveness.

Allergic rhinitis (AR) affecting ∼20–30% of women in childbearing age can be considered one of the most common group of medical conditions that complicate pregnancy. AR with symptoms of nasal obstruction, sneezing, and itching may require pharmacotherapy. However, there are concerns regarding the safety of different available agents that can be used during pregnancy with respect to both maternal and fetal well being.

The best first-line approach in the management of AR is avoidance of allergens. If environmental modification is ineffective, then the pharmacologic agents should be chosen. For symptoms of rhinorrhea, sneezing, or itching, intranasal cromolyn, with its excellent safety profile, should be considered as first-line therapy. If cromolyn is ineffective or poorly tolerated, first-generation (e.g., chlorpheniramine and tripelennamine) and second generation (e.g., cetirizine and loratadine) antihistamines can be given. Intranasal steroids (e.g., beclomethasone dipropionate, and budesonide) can be added to first-line therapy especially for severe nasal obstruction. There are no epidemiological studies with newer intranasal steroids (e.g., flunisolide, triamcinolone acetonide, fluticasone propionate, and mometasone furoate) during the first trimester of pregnancy. Immunotherapy has not proven to be teratogenic and is clinically useful in improving symptoms. Oral and topical decongestants can be considered as second-line therapy, for short-term relief, when no safer alternative is available.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the benefit of patients with olfactory dysfunction from local (group A) or systemic (group B) administration of corticosteroids.

This unblinded study was conducted at a smell and taste outpatient clinic of an institutional referral center. Patients with olfactory loss after infections of the upper respiratory tract, patients with apparent sinonasal disease, and patients suffering from “idiopathic” smell loss were included. Effects of mometasone nasal spray, administered for 1–3 months, were studied in 37 patients. In addition, effects of oral prednisolone were analyzed in 55 patients who received decreasing doses over 21 days, starting with a dose of 40 mg. Olfactory function before and after treatment was measured.

Although odor identification scores tended to increase (p = 0.05), mometasone nasal spray did not significantly improve olfactory function, when looking at the entire group of patients or when analyzing the three diagnostic categories separately. In contrast, after systemic administration of corticosteroids, improvement of olfactory function was seen over all diagnostic categories (p < 0.001). Interestingly, olfactory function also improved in patients diagnosed with olfactory loss after upper respiratory tract infection (p = 0.05) and in patients initially diagnosed with “idiopathic” olfactory dysfunction (p = 0.008).

In many patients, local application of corticosteroids appears to have little or no positive effect on olfactory dysfunction, especially when considering long-term changes. Duration of disease, the patient's age/sex, or the presence of parosmia does not appear to predict the response to therapy with corticosteroids.

Knowledge of anatomy including variations observed with endoscopy or computerized tomography scan is vital to the performance of safe endoscopic sinus surgery. The lower-than-normal skull base/cribriform plate is an anatomic variation, which if not noted preoperatively, can lead to entrance into the brain causing major injury.

Four case studies of chronic rhinosinusitis are reviewed in which either the whole anterior skull base or the cribriform plate is lower than usual and major complications occurred.

All four cases had unilateral or bilateral entrance into the skull base/cribriform plate of the brain in the biopsy specimen, postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leak, and/or brain hemorrhage. One patient died from the injury, three patients had marked neurological sequelae. The low skull base and its meaning for the surgeon is discussed at length.

The preoperative anatomy as determined by endoscopy and computerized tomography scanning has to be identified. Variations or abnormalities should be noted and taken into consideration for preoperative and operative planning. Failure to note skull base or cribriform anatomy variations may lead to brain entrance, injury, and death.

“Nasal dyspnea” describes the common symptom of nasal airway obstruction, which usually is assessed subjectively. Objective, quantitative methods are needed to assess the nasal airway adequately.

Rhinomanometry, in use for >30 years, was reviewed.

No other symptom of rhinitis can be measured as objectively and accurately as that of nasal obstruction. Determinations by rhinomanometry are precise, usually better than 5%. Most rhinomanometers meet the published requirements of standardization by the International Rhinologic Society. An improved system for scoring symptoms of nasal dyspnea is suggested. Rhinomanometry, potentially a gold standard for the objective measurement of obstructed nasal airflow, has a proven place in the selection of patients for septal and nasal valve reconstruction.

Recommendations are given for extension of the standards to account for the near universal computerization of equipment. Miniaturization of equipment will increase its application to trials of drugs for rhinitis.

The authors present the results of a long-term follow-up after an immediate reduction of nasal septum luxation in newborn infants.

Forty-nine children, who underwent a treatment for septal dislocation within 48 hours after birth, were reexamined in 2002 at a mean age of 13.2 years (range, 10–17 years). The examination was performed through inspection of the nasal pyramid, anterior rhinoscopy, nasal endoscopy, rhinomanometry, and acoustic rhinometry.

Anatomic and functional findings showed satisfactory results for all children affected by septal dislocation. Three patients presenting irreplaceable septal-pyramidal deformity had no spontaneous reduction at 7-, 10-, and 11-year follow-ups and thus required surgical intervention.

Considering the simplicity and the safety of the reduction maneuver, the importance of early detection and treatment of neonatal septal dislocations is stressed. This is the longest follow-up study reported in international literature to date.

Epidermoid cysts are thought to arise as a result of implantation of epidermal cells into the deeper dermal elements. These cysts have previously been described postsurgery but not after accidental nasal trauma.

We outline a case of a nasal epidermoid occurring post-blunt nasal trauma and its subsequent excision.

The lesion was excised successfully endoscopically without recourse to an open technique.

We describe, for the first time, the successful intranasal removal of a post-traumatic epidermoid cyst via an endoscopic approach.

Congenital nasal pyriform aperture stenosis (CNPAS) leading to respiratory insufficiency in infants has been well documented. Nevertheless, the nasal pyriform aperture stenosis (NPAS) entity in adulthood has not been discussed at all. The normative data of the width of the pyriform aperture, which has not been revealed before, is necessary for evaluation of the adult subjects with nasal bony inlet stenosis. The aim of this study was to define the normative data about the pyriform aperture width measured in 80 adult subjects with paranasal sinus symptoms without nasal obstruction and, additionally, to report the surgical results of two representative cases with NPAS.

The nasal bony inlet width measurements have been achieved in axial computerized tomographic sections to establish normative data. The maximal distance between the nasal processes of the opposite maxillary bones was measured. Two adult males complaining of nasal obstruction with overt pyriform aperture stenosis were treated surgically via a sublabial approach.

The mean widest dimension of the nasal pyriform aperture was 21.6 6 2.2 mm (range, 17–27 mm) in 80 adult subjects. This width was 21.9 6 2.1 mm (range 18–27 mm) in men and 21 6 2.2 mm (range, 17–26 mm) in women. Stenotic pyriform apertures in two patients were widened surgically by drilling via a sublabial approach from 12 and 10 mm to 24 and 21 mm, respectively.

NPAS should be included in the list of differential diagnosis for nasal obstruction. Surgical enlargement using a sublabial approach was found an effective and adequate treatment in pyriform aperture stenosis.