The clinical behavior of isolated sphenoid sinusitis

Dror Gilony*, Yoav P. Talmi, Lev Bedrin, Yosef Ben-Shosan, Jona Kronenberg

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

48 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: We sought to study the clinical behavior and treatment outcome of isolated sphenoid sinusitis (ISS). Study Design and Setting: We conducted a retrospective study of patients diagnosed with ISS in a tertiary medical center over 20 years. Results: Of 72 patients with ISS, 79 percent had acute symptoms, 15 percent had chronic symptoms, and 6 percent had incidental radiological findings. Fifteen percent were children. Most patients were diagnosed between January and April (P < 0.01), and increasing incidence was noted over the years (P < 0.001). Headache was the most common presenting symptom (85%). Chronic patients complained also of nasal symptoms (82%). Six patients had a major complication of sinusitis (none of them were children), and two patients died. Immunocompromised patients had more major complications (P ≤ 0.001) and increased mortality (P ≤ 0.01). Conclusion: Most patients need conservative treatment alone. However, life-threatening complications are not infrequent. Close observation and early surgical intervention, if needed, provide the mainstay of treatment. Significance: This is the first large series that focuses on the clinical behavior, complications, and treatment of ISS.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)610-615
Number of pages6
JournalOtolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
Volume136
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2007
Externally publishedYes

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