Skip to main content
NCBI home page
Canadian Family Physician logoLink to Canadian Family Physician
. 1990 Apr;36:749-754, 775.

Chronic Sinusitis

Johannes Steinberg, Pradip Modi
PMCID: PMC2280581  PMID: 21234027

Abstract

Paranasal sinuses, which communicate with the nasal passages through the sinus ostia, are essentially sterile structures, sterility being maintained by a healthy epithelium with normal actively beating cilia. Irritants, including viruses and bacteria, are trapped in mucus and cilia to allow the clearance of sinuses through the natural ostia into the nasal cavity. Interference with this normal physiological function results in inflammation and infection within the sinus cavities. All of the sinuses are subjected to the same environmental as well as physiological stimuli; thus it is uncommon for a single sinus to be infected and for the others to remain entirely normal. Allergic and non-allergic vasomotor rhinitis should be differentiated from chronic bacterial rhinosinusitis. The understanding of these diseases cannot be separated from the physiological function of the sinus mucosa.

Keywords: chronic sinusitis, family medicine, management of sinusitis, otolaryngology, sinusitis

Full text

PDF
749

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Alberti P. W. Applied surgical anatomy of the maxillary sinus. Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 1976 Feb;9(1):3–20. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Aust R., Drettner B., Hemmingsson A. Elimination of contrast medium from the maxillary sinus. Acta Otolaryngol. 1976 May-Jun;81(5-6):468–474. doi: 10.3109/00016487609107502. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Bailey B. J. Management of sinus infections. Am Fam Physician. 1973 Dec;8(6):100–107. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Bashi S., Khan M. A., Guirjis A., Joharjy I. A., Abid M. A. Immotile-cilia syndrome with azoospermia: a case report and review of the literature. Br J Dis Chest. 1988 Apr;82(2):194–196. doi: 10.1016/0007-0971(88)90043-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Berlinger N. T. Sinusitis in immunodeficient and immunosuppressed patients. Laryngoscope. 1985 Jan;95(1):29–33. doi: 10.1288/00005537-198501000-00009. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Brook I. Bacteriology of chronic maxillary sinusitis in adults. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 1989 Jun;98(6):426–428. doi: 10.1177/000348948909800605. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Brook I. Beta-lactamase-producing bacteria in head and neck infection. Laryngoscope. 1988 Apr;98(4):428–431. doi: 10.1288/00005537-198804000-00015. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Brook I. Direct and indirect pathogenicity of anaerobic bacteria in respiratory tract infections in children. Adv Pediatr. 1987;34:357–377. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Brook I., Friedman E. M. Intracranial complications of sinusitis in children. A sequela of periapical abscess. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 1982 Jan-Feb;91(1 Pt 1):41–43. doi: 10.1177/000348948209100110. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Brook I. Role of anaerobic beta-lactamase-producing bacteria in upper respiratory tract infections. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 1987 Mar;6(3):310–316. doi: 10.1097/00006454-198703000-00045. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Carenfelt C., Lundberg C. Purulent and non-purulent maxillary sinus secretions with respect to pO2, pCO2 and pH. Acta Otolaryngol. 1977 Jul-Aug;84(1-2):138–144. doi: 10.3109/00016487709123952. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Chandler J. R., Langenbrunner D. J., Stevens E. R. The pathogenesis of orbital complications in acute sinusitis. Laryngoscope. 1970 Sep;80(9):1414–1428. doi: 10.1288/00005537-197009000-00007. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Daley C. L., Sande M. The runny nose. Infection of the paranasal sinuses. Infect Dis Clin North Am. 1988 Mar;2(1):131–147. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Davidson T. M., Brahme F. J., Gallagher M. E. Radiographic evaluation for nasal dysfunction: computed tomography versus plain films. Head Neck. 1989 Sep-Oct;11(5):405–409. doi: 10.1002/hed.2880110505. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Draf W. Therapeutic endoscopy of the paranasal sinuses. Endoscopy. 1978 Nov;10(4):247–254. doi: 10.1055/s-0028-1098303. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Hansen M., Poulsen M. R., Bendixen D. K., Hartmann-Andersen F. Incidence of sinusitis in patients with nasotracheal intubation. Br J Anaesth. 1988 Aug;61(2):231–232. doi: 10.1093/bja/61.2.231. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Hoffman S. R., Dersarkissian R. M., Buck S. H., Stinziano G. D., Buck G. M. Sinus disease and surgical treatment: a results oriented quality assurance study. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1989 Jun;100(6):573–577. doi: 10.1177/019459988910000609. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Jazbi B., Ritter F. N. Sinoscopy and sinus disease in children. Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 1977 Feb;10(1):71–80. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Kennedy D. W., Zinreich S. J., Rosenbaum A. E., Johns M. E. Functional endoscopic sinus surgery. Theory and diagnostic evaluation. Arch Otolaryngol. 1985 Sep;111(9):576–582. doi: 10.1001/archotol.1985.00800110054002. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Kennedy D. W., Zinreich S. J., Rosenbaum A. E., Johns M. E. Functional endoscopic sinus surgery. Theory and diagnostic evaluation. Arch Otolaryngol. 1985 Sep;111(9):576–582. doi: 10.1001/archotol.1985.00800110054002. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Kennedy D. W., Zinreich S. J., Rosenbaum A. E., Johns M. E. Functional endoscopic sinus surgery. Theory and diagnostic evaluation. Arch Otolaryngol. 1985 Sep;111(9):576–582. doi: 10.1001/archotol.1985.00800110054002. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Kopp W., Stammberger H., Fotter R. Special radiologic imaging of paranasal sinuses. A prerequisite for functional endoscopic sinus surgery. Eur J Radiol. 1988 Aug;8(3):153–156. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Krause D. E., Grybauskas V. T., Friedman M. Instruments and equipment for endoscopic sinus surgery. Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 1989 Aug;22(4):703–711. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Lévy C., Meyer P., Guérin J. M., Deberardinis F., Aouala D. Sinusites nosocomiales en unité de soins intensifs. Rôle de l'intubation nasotrachéale. Ann Otolaryngol Chir Cervicofac. 1988;105(7):549–552. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Mabry R. L. Office diagnosis of sinus disorders: the role of ultrasound scanning. Laryngoscope. 1984 Aug;94(8):1042–1044. doi: 10.1288/00005537-198408000-00010. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Mabry R. L. Sinus ultrasound scanning. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1985 Feb;93(1):136–137. doi: 10.1177/019459988509300132. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Messerklinger W. On the drainage of the normal frontal sinus of man. Acta Otolaryngol. 1967 Feb-Mar;63(2):176–181. doi: 10.3109/00016486709128748. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Nishioka K., Masuda Y., Yanagi E., Yuen K., Tanaka T., Ogura Y. Cytologic diagnosis of the maxillary sinus reevaluated. Laryngoscope. 1989 Aug;99(8 Pt 1):842–845. doi: 10.1288/00005537-198908000-00012. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Otten F. W., Grote J. J. Treatment of chronic maxillary sinusitis in children. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 1988 Sep;15(3):269–278. doi: 10.1016/0165-5876(88)90082-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Pfleiderer A. G. Antroscopy via the inferior meatal route under local anaesthetic: a practical guide to technique. J Laryngol Otol. 1987 Oct;101(10):1035–1039. doi: 10.1017/s0022215100103184. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Proctor D. F. Airborne disease and the upper respiratory tract. Bacteriol Rev. 1966 Sep;30(3):498–513. doi: 10.1128/br.30.3.498-513.1966. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. Rachelefsky G. S., Katz R. M., Siegel S. C. Chronic sinusitis in the allergic child. Pediatr Clin North Am. 1988 Oct;35(5):1091–1101. doi: 10.1016/s0031-3955(16)36550-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. Revonta M., Kuuliala I. The diagnosis and follow-up of pediatric sinusitis: Water's view radiography versus ultrasonography. Laryngoscope. 1989 Mar;99(3):321–324. doi: 10.1288/00005537-198903000-00016. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  34. Rice D. H., Fishman S. M., Barton R. T., Hutcherson R., Eichel B. S. Cranial complications of frontal sinusitis. Am Fam Physician. 1980 Nov;22(5):145–149. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  35. Shahin J., Gullane P. J., Dayal V. S. Orbital complications of acute sinusitis. J Otolaryngol. 1987 Feb;16(1):23–27. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  36. Shapiro G. G. Sinusitis in children. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1988 May;81(5 Pt 2):1025–1027. doi: 10.1016/0091-6749(88)90173-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  37. Smith M. C., Cable H. R. Correlation of the sinoscopic appearance of the maxillary antrum with histological and bacteriological findings. J Laryngol Otol. 1988 Dec;102(12):1086–1088. doi: 10.1017/s0022215100107406. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  38. Stammberger H. Endoscopic endonasal surgery--concepts in treatment of recurring rhinosinusitis. Part I. Anatomic and pathophysiologic considerations. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1986 Feb;94(2):143–147. doi: 10.1177/019459988609400202. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  39. Steiner W. Techniques of diagnostic and operative endoscopy of the head and neck. Endoscopy of ear, cerebellopontine angle, nose, paranasal sinuses, larynx, oro- and hypophyarynx. Endoscopy. 1979 Feb;11(1):51–59. doi: 10.1055/s-0028-1098325. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  40. Wigand M. E., Steiner W., Jaumann M. P. Endonasal sinus surgery with endoscopical control: from radical operation to rehabilitation of the mucosa. Endoscopy. 1978 Nov;10(4):255–260. doi: 10.1055/s-0028-1098304. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  41. Wigand M. E. Transnasal ethmoidectomy under endoscopical control. Rhinology. 1981 Mar;19(1):7–15. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Canadian Family Physician are provided here courtesy of College of Family Physicians of Canada

RESOURCES