Nasal endoscopy: an adjunct to patient selection for preoperative low-dose CT examination in chronic rhinosinusitis

A proposed protocol for correlation between bone density in hemimandibular hyperplasia radiography and histopathological findings - A retrospective study

The role of low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) in surgical planning can be assessed based on the correlation among bone density (BD/HU), radiographic values, and the histopathological appearance of hyperplastic overgrowth in mandibular condyles (hemimandibular hyperplasia/osteochondroma). The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between LDCT indices of bone-density measurements in surgical planning and histopathological specimens. The patients incuded in this study underwent detailed radiological evaluation as preparation for further clinical procedures. Excised condyles were evaluated in terms of bone density index using LDCT, and then histopathologically to investigate the accuracy of surgical procedures and set the basis for future surgical planning. An index value between both condyles' bone densities represented the relative difference between the healthy condyle and the side with hemimandibular hyperplasia (HH). Patients with unilateral condylar hyperplasia (UCH) showed a statistical correlation between condyle heads with increased bone density (BD) and scintigraphic (SCI) values (p < 0.001). On the other hand, correlation between BD and histopathological studies alone was significant (p < 0.001). With the increase in BD measured in HU in UCH condyles, the overall value of fibrous cartilage layer thickness decreased (p < 0.001). Furthermore, histopathological evaluation indicated that increased bone density on the UCH side resulted in increased total thickness (p > 0.001). The proposed index measurements in the mandibular condyles based on LDCT/BD can be used to estimate the degree of required surgical resection. Results from LDCT radiographic studies correlate with histopathological specimens more than scintigraphy.

Tissue Interleukin-33: A Novel Potential Regulator of Innate Immunity and Biomarker of Disease Severity in Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps

BACKGROUND

Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is a disease of real interest for researchers due to its heterogenicity and complex pathophysiological mechanisms. Identification of the factors that ensure success after treatment represents one of the main challenges in CRSwNP research. No consensus in this direction has been reached so far. Biomarkers for poor outcomes have been noted, but nonetheless, their prognostic value has not been extensively investigated, and needs to be sought. We aimed to evaluate the correlation between potential prognostic predictors for recalcitrant disease in patients with CRSwNP.

METHODS

The study group consisted of CRSwNP patients who underwent surgical treatment and nasal polyp (NP) tissue sampling. The preoperative workup included Lund-Mackay assessment, nasal endoscopy, eosinophil blood count, asthma, and environmental allergy questionnaire. Postoperatively, in subjects with poor outcomes, imagistic osteitis severity was evaluated, and IL-33 expression was measured.

RESULTS

IL-33 expression in NP was positively and significantly correlated with postoperative osteitis on CT scans (p = 0.01). Furthermore, high osteitis CT scores were related to high blood eosinophilia (p = 0.01). A positive strong correlation was found between postoperative osteitis and the Lund-Mackay preoperative score (p = 0.01), as well as the nasal endoscopy score (p = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Our research analyzed the levels of polyp IL-33, relative to blood eosinophilia, overall disease severity score, and osteitis severity, in patients with CRSwNP. These variables are prognostic predictors for poor outcomes and recalcitrant disease. Considering the importance of bone involvement in CRSwNP, this research aims to provide a better insight into the correlations of osteitis with clinical and biological factors.

Investigation of sinonasal anatomy via low-dose multidetector CT examination in chronic rhinosinusitis patients with higher risk for perioperative complications

The aim of the study was to compare visualisation of the surgically relevant anatomical structures via low- and standard-dose multidetector CT protocol in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and higher risk for perioperative complications (i.e. presence of bronchial asthma, history of sinus surgery and advanced nasal polyposis). 135 adult CRS patients were divided randomly into standard-dose (120 kVp, 100 mAs) or low-dose CT groups (120 kVp, 45 mAs). The detectability of the vital anatomical structures (anterior ethmoid artery, optic nerve, cribriform plate and lamina papyracea) was scored using a five-point scale (from excellent to unacceptable) by a radiologist and sinus surgeon. Polyp sizes were quantified endoscopically according to the Lildholdt's scale (LS). Olfactory function was tested with the "Sniffin' Sticks" test. On the low-dose CT images, detectability ranged from 2.42 (better than poor) for cribriform plate among anosmic cases to 4.11 (better than good) for lamina papyracea in cases without nasal polyps. Identification of lamina papyracea on low-dose scans was significantly worse in each group and the same was the case with cribriform plates in patients with advanced polyposis and anosmia. Cribriform plates were the most poorly identified (between poor and average) among all the structures on low-dose images. Identification of anterior ethmoid artery (AEA) with reduced dose was insignificantly worse than with standard-dose examination. The AEA was scored as an average-defined structure and was the second weakest visualised. In conclusion, preoperatively, low-dose protocols may not sufficiently visualise the surgically relevant anatomical structures in patients with CRS and bronchial asthma, advanced nasal polyps (LS > 2) and history of sinus surgery. Low mAs value enables comparable detectability of sinonasal landmarks with standard-dose protocols in patients without analysed risk factors. In the context of planned surgery, the current preferences of the tube should be carefully evaluated for different patient constitutions to minimise the risk of complications.