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Background: Eosinophilic angiocentric fibrosis is a rare benign disorder of the upper respiratory tract. It is slow growing and progressive, with characteristic histological appearances., Methods: We report the largest single-institution case series of sinonasal eosinophilic angiocentric fibrosis to date, comprising nine patients. The current literature is reviewed, showing emerging evidence that this condition may belong to the immunoglobulin G4-related disease spectrum., Results: The series comprised five female and four male patients, with a mean age at presentation of 53 years. All were treated surgically. Six patients had no signs of recurrent disease after an average of 8.5 years. One patient went on to develop granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener's granulomatosis), which required immunosuppressive therapy., Conclusion: The first-line management of this rare condition is complete surgical excision. Chronic granulomatous conditions, including granulomatosis with polyangiitis, should be excluded before a diagnosis is made, and patients should be carefully followed.

Objectives: To compare Telfa with the Rapid Rhino Riemann nasal pack for use following endoscopic sinus surgery., Design: Prospective, randomized, double-blind, paired trial., Setting: Tertiary otolaryngology hospital., Participants: Forty-five adult patients undergoing bilateral endoscopic sinus surgery for either chronic rhinosinusitis or nasal polyps., Main Outcome Measures: A visual analogue scale was used to assess discomfort caused by the presence of the packs in the nose and by their removal. The amount of bleeding was noted with the packs in place and following their removal. Crusting and adhesions were assessed 2 and 6 weeks following surgery., Results: Both packs performed well giving good haemostasis and causing little bleeding on removal. Both packs caused only mild discomfort while in the nose. On the visual analogue scale of 0-10 cm the mean visual analogue score for Rapid Rhino Riemann pack was 1.7 and for Telfa 2.0 (P = 0.371). The Rapid Rhino Riemann pack caused significantly less pain on removal compared with the Telfa pack with a mean visual analogue score of 2.0 in comparison with 3.7 for Telfa (P = 0.001). There were less adhesions with the Rapid Rhino Riemann than Telfa pack but this was not statistically significant (P = 0.102)., Conclusions: Both Telfa and Rapid Rhino Riemann packs can be recommended as packs that control postoperative haemorrhage, do not cause bleeding on removal and cause little discomfort while in the nose. The Rapid Rhino Riemann pack has the advantage of causing significantly less pain on removal.

The midfacial degloving approach was first described by Casson et al. in 1974 but despite a number of papers in the American literature advocating its use, it has not gained popularity in Europe. The advantages and application of the technique are presented in 36 patients, ranging from 7-78 years of age. The approach is ideally suited for extensive benign lesions in the nasal cavity, ethmoid and sphenoid sinuses and enables access to the nasopharynx and infratemporal fossa whilst avoiding an external incision. These lesions have included angiofibroma (13 cases), inverted papilloma (five cases), a variety of cysts (three cases) and six miscellaneous cases of benign pathology. Malignant lesions which have not breached the anterior cranial fossa may also be removed, up to and including bilateral maxillectomy (nine cases) and this can be combined with orbital clearance. The approach may be repeated if necessary and is associated with few significant complications though vestibular stenosis, oro-antral fistula, nasolacrimal damage and upward rotation of the nasal tip may occur. Strategies to avoid these problems can be undertaken and long-term cosmetic results are excellent.

Nineteen patients presenting for sinus surgery were studied to evaluate the percentage penetration from serum to paranasal sinus tissue of a single orally administered dose of cefuroxime axetil. The methods and results are presented. Cefuroxime penetrates well into human sinus mucosa following oral administration and the concentrations obtained exceed minimum inhibitory concentrations of cefuroxime for the most common pathogens in sinusitis.

Considerable clinical success has been claimed for functional endoscopic sinus surgery but objective assessment of prospective series is lacking in the literature. Twenty-four patients with chronic rhino-sinusitis underwent assessment of symptoms by visual analogue scoring, nasomucociliary function by ciliary beat frequency, olfaction by qualitative olfactometry and nasal airway resistance by anterior rhinomanometry pre- and post-operatively. This demonstrated a significant improvement in all symptoms examined and in ciliary beat frequency. Quantitative olfaction and anterior rhinomanometry were not improved despite diminished symptoms. These results offer quantitative evidence of clinical improvement following functional endoscopic sinus surgery which supports the pathophysiological concepts on which the technique is based.

CT scans of 100 patients from the Rhinology Clinic at the Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital were reviewed in order to test the precepts forming the basis of functional endoscopic sinus surgery, especially as they relate to the radiological investigation. These were: (a) the site of origin of sinus infection, (b) The relevance of certain anatomical variants in the middle meatus to sinus infection and (c) The use of CT as the radiological method of diagnosis in all cases. Obstruction in the middle meatus and ostiomeatal complex was associated with an increased incidence of opacity in the sinuses but the primary site of disease was not established: the concept that sinus disease takes origin in the middle meatus was not proven. Anatomical variants in the middle meatus were not associated with an increase in sinus opacity and there was no evidence that these anomalies have any effect on sinus disease by causing middle meatal stenosis. The radiological assessment of patients with inflammatory naso-sinus disease should start with plain X-ray. CT is unnecessary as a routine examination. It should be reserved for the pre-operative assessment of patients for endoscopic surgery, its main function being to show important anatomical landmarks.

Background:Nasal polyposis is characterised by opacification of the nasal cavities, paranasal sinuses and ostiomeatal complexes on computed tomography scanning. Sinonasal bony changes have been reported as disease sequelae.Objectives:To assess the prevalence of sinonasal bone expansion, erosion and thickening in patients with nasal polyposis, and to correlate disease severity with the prevalence of bony changes.Methods:A retrospective radiological study was conducted comprising pre-operative computed tomography scans of 104 patients with nasal polyposis and scans of 44 age- and gender-matched individuals (control group) without sinonasal disease. Lund–Mackay scores and bony changes were quantified.Results:Ninety-three per cent of the study group scans showed sinonasal bony change, with no changes in the control group. Radiological severity of nasal polyposis correlated positively with the prevalence of bony changes (rs = 0.31; p < 0.01).Conclusion:Sinonasal bony changes were common in the study group. This highlights the importance of pre- and intra-operative imaging, which can help to prevent intra-operative complications. As bony changes may mimic invasive disease, the importance of histological assessment of polyps is emphasised. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a n inflammatory disorder affecting the nose and paranasal sinuses. Although bacteria have long been implicated as pathogens in most forms of CRS, it has been recognized that fungi may be responsible for some forms of CRS. Recent studies have shown that under optimal conditions, fungi can be identified within the nose and paranasal sinuses of nearly every individual. Considerable controversy exists concerning the proper diagnosis of and potential overlap between „allergic fungal rhinosinusitis” and „chronic rhinosinusitis”. Although the disease name „allergic fungal rhinosinusitis” is suggestive of an immunoglobulin E (IgE) mediated reaction to fungi, recent studies demonstrate the presence of elevated serum IgE levels to one fungus while another fungus is present in CRS mucin of the same individual, questioning the role of type I hypersensitivity. Several mechanisms explaining the role of fungi in the pathogenesis of CRS, all requiring additional investigations with adequate controls, have been suggested and will be reviewed. Although preliminary trials suggest a beneficial effect of topical and oral antifungal agents in the treatment of CRS patients, several double-blind placebo controlled trials do not. Presently, in the absence of convincing immunological data and evidence of clinical improvement of CRS upon therapy with antifungal agents, the case against the fungus remains unproven. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]