Ultrasound device helps in ruling out maxillary sinus fluid in acute rhinosinusitis: how we do it

Outpatient Point-of-Care Ultrasound

The most commonly used outpatient primary care point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) applications are similar to those used in the inpatient setting (eg, cardiac, pulmonary, and abdominal ultrasound). However, there are several additional POCUS applications that are highly applicable to the outpatient setting and should be considered for use by primary care practitioners. This article reviews 3 outpatient POCUS applications and their potential role in the primary care setting.

Point-of-Care Sinus Ultrasound: Impact Within a Large Internal Medicine Clinic and Review of Technique

Outpatient diagnosis of acute bacterial sinusitis, using only traditional physical examination and clinical criteria, results in the overuse of antibiotics in patients with upper respiratory complaints. Point-of-care maxillary sinus ultrasound is easy to learn and quick to perform in a primary care clinic. The technique can reduce antibiotic prescribing by reassuring both patients and providers of the absence of fluid in the sinus, the hallmark of maxillary sinusitis. A review of the literature, description of technique, and results of sinus ultrasound implementation in a large internal medicine clinic are included.

[The modern possibilities for the application of multispiral computed tomography in diagnostics of paranasal sinuses mycetomas]

The objective of the present study was the analysis of the health status of 20 patients presenting with histologically verified paranasal sinuses mycetomas (fungus balls) with special reference to CT-semiotics characteristic of the fungal ball as early as during the pre-verification period. The surgical strategy for the management of this condition has been substantiated. It is concluded that the final verification of the pathological process in question is possible only based on the results of the histological studies.

Anterior rhinoscopy and middle meatal culture in acute rhinosinusitis

Objective:

To assess the use of bacterial culture findings for middle meatal samples obtained via anterior rhinoscopy, in the diagnosis of adults with acute rhinosinusitis.

Materials and methods:

Microbial cultures were prepared for 30 adult patients with acute rhinosinusitis and suspected bacterial involvement, using samples from the nasopharynx, and from the nasal middle meatus obtained via anterior rhinoscopy. Findings for the ipsilateral maxillary antrum were used as a reference.

Results:

Seventeen patients had a bacterial infection as verified by a positive culture from the maxillary antrum. Middle meatal samples had a similar sensitivity but a better specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value, compared with nasopharyngeal samples, although predictive values were not statistically significant at a 95 per cent confidence level.

Conclusion:

Anterior rhinoscopy with culture of middle meatal samples can be recommended as a diagnostic procedure for acute rhinosinusitis. The results can also guide the decision on antibiotic treatment.