BackgroundFunctional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) is now a well-established strategy for the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis which has not responded to medical treatment. There is a wide variation in the practice of FESS by various surgeons within the UK and in other countries.ObjectivesTo identify anatomic factors that may predispose to persistent or recurrent disease in patients undergoing revision FESS.MethodsRetrospective review of axial and coronal CT scans of patients undergoing revision FESS between January 2005 and November 2008 in a tertiary referral centre in South West of England.ResultsThe CT scans of 63 patients undergoing revision FESS were reviewed. Among the patients studied, 15.9% had significant deviation of the nasal septum. Lateralised middle turbinates were present in 11.1% of the studied sides, and residual uncinate processes were identified in 57.1% of the studied sides. There were residual cells in the frontal recess in 96% of the studied sides. There were persistent other anterior and posterior ethmoidal cells in 92.1% and 96% of the studied sides respectively.ConclusionsAnalysis of CT scans of patients undergoing revision FESS shows persistent structures and non-dissected cells that may be responsible for persistence or recurrence of rhinosinusitis symptoms. Trials comparing the outcome of conservative FESS techniques with more radical sinus dissections are required.

The literature demonstrates that endoscopic repair of CSF rhinorrhoea is safe and effective, with a very low complication rate. It has almost completely replaced the older open techniques.

Background. The frontal recess area represents a challenge to ENT surgeons due to its narrow confines and variable anatomy. Several types of cells have been described in this area. The agger nasi cells are the most constant ones. The frontal cells, originally classified by Kuhn into 4 types, have been reported in the literature to exist in 20%–41% of frontal recesses. Aim of the Study. To identify the prevalence of frontal recess cells and their relation to frontal sinus disease. Methods. Coronal and axial CT scans of paranasal sinuses of 70 patients admitted for functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) were reviewed to identify the agger nasi, frontal cells, and frontal sinus disease. Data was collated for right and left sides separately. Results. Of the 140 sides reviewed, 126 (90%) had agger nasi and 110 (78.571%) had frontal cells. 37 frontal sinuses were free of mucosal disease, 48 were partly opacified, and 50 were totally opacified. There was no significant difference found in frontal sinus mucosal disease in presence or absence of frontal cells or agger nasi. Conclusions. The current study shows that frontal cells might be underreported in the literature, as the prevalence identified is noticeably higher than previous studies.

Inverted papilloma is a benign but locally aggressive sino-nasal tumour. Although relatively uncommon, involvement of the frontal sinus by this tumour represents a significant surgical challenge. The objective of the study is to propose a scheme for management of inverted papilloma involving the frontal sinus, based upon the findings of the current study. All cases of inverted papilloma operated upon between July 1995 and June 2008 were retrospectively reviewed to identify cases in which the tumour involved the frontal sinus. Among 34 patients with inverted papilloma, 4 were found to have tumours involving the frontal sinus (11.76%). These patients were initially treated by endonasal endoscopic resection. At time of initial surgical excision, the tumour was found to involve the frontal sinus by expansion from the ethmoids in three of these patients. In the fourth patient, the tumour was found to be massively involving the frontal sinus mucosa. After a mean follow-up of 16.3 months, no recurrences were detected in the first three patients. In the patient with massive mucosal involvement, recurrence was detected 4 years after the initial endonasal endoscopic resection. Subsequently, an osteoplastic flap was performed to resect the tumour. Fifty months later the patient remained disease free. Surgeons managing patients with frontal sinus inverted papilloma should have a clear management scheme before embarking on surgery. The patient's consent should be obtained pre-operatively for a possible osteoplastic flap. Tumours just expanding into the frontal sinus can be managed by either endoscopic or nonendoscopic approaches. On the other hand, in tumours significantly involving the frontal sinus mucosa, an osteoplastic flap is warranted to ensure complete tumour resection.