Skip to main content
NCBI home page
The BMJ logoLink to The BMJ
. 1995 Jul 22;311(6999):233–236. doi: 10.1136/bmj.311.6999.233

Predicting acute maxillary sinusitis in a general practice population.

J G Hansen 1, H Schmidt 1, J Rosborg 1, E Lund 1
PMCID: PMC2550286  PMID: 7627042

Abstract

OBJECTIVE--To evaluate the diagnostic value of symptoms, signs, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and C reactive protein for acute maxillary sinusitis. DESIGN--Prospective cohort study. SETTING--Danish general practice in cooperation with the otorhinolaryngology and neuroradiology department at Aalborg County Hospital. SUBJECTS--174 patients aged 18-65 years who were suspected by the general practitioner of having acute maxillary sinusitis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE--The independent association of symptoms, signs, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and concentration of C reactive protein in patients with acute maxillary sinusitis defined as purulent or mucopurulent antral aspirate. RESULTS--Only raised erythrocyte sedimentation rate (P = 0.01) and raised C reactive protein (P = 0.007) were found to be independently associated with a diagnosis of acute maxillary sinusitis. The combination of the two variables had a sensitivity of 0.82 and a specificity of 0.57. CONCLUSION--Erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C reactive protein are useful diagnostic criteria for acute maxillary sinusitis.

Full text

PDF
233

Selected References

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

  1. Antila J., Sonninen P., Grenman R. MRI and plain radiographics in acute frontal sinus infections. Rhinology. 1993 Dec;31(4):145–149. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Axelsson A., Runze U. Symptoms and signs of acute maxillary sinusitis. ORL J Otorhinolaryngol Relat Spec. 1976;38(5):298–308. doi: 10.1159/000275288. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Berg O., Bergstedt H., Carenfelt C., Lind M. G., Perols O. Discrimination of purulent from nonpurulent maxillary sinusitis. Clinical and radiographic diagnosis. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 1981 May-Jun;90(3 Pt 1):272–275. doi: 10.1177/000348948109000316. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Berg O., Carenfelt C. Analysis of symptoms and clinical signs in the maxillary sinus empyema. Acta Otolaryngol. 1988 Mar-Apr;105(3-4):343–349. doi: 10.3109/00016488809097017. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Berg O., Carenfelt C. Etiological diagnosis in sinusitis: ultrasonography as clinical complement. Laryngoscope. 1985 Jul;95(7 Pt 1):851–853. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Bro F., Mabeck C. E. Behandling af infektionssygdomme i almen praksis med antibakterielle laegemidler. Ugeskr Laeger. 1986 Sep 29;148(40):2540–2543. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Druce H. M. Diagnosis of sinusitis in adults: history, physical examination, nasal cytology, echo, and rhinoscope. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1992 Sep;90(3 Pt 2):436–441. doi: 10.1016/0091-6749(92)90165-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Flinn J., Chapman M. E., Wightman A. J., Maran A. G. A prospective analysis of incidental paranasal sinus abnormalities on CT head scans. Clin Otolaryngol Allied Sci. 1994 Aug;19(4):287–289. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2273.1994.tb01232.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Hansen J. G., Schmidt H. Danske praktiserende laegers diagnosticering og behandling af sinuitis acuta. Ugeskr Laeger. 1994 Mar 28;156(13):1934-5, 1938-40. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Hjortdahl P., Landaas S., Urdal P., Steinbakk M., Fuglerud P., Nygaard B. C-reactive protein: a new rapid assay for managing infectious disease in primary health care. Scand J Prim Health Care. 1991 Mar;9(1):3–10. doi: 10.3109/02813439109026574. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Kay N. J., Setia R. N., Stone J. Relevance of conventional radiography in indicating maxillary antral lavage. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 1984 Jan-Feb;93(1 Pt 1):37–38. doi: 10.1177/000348948409300109. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Lindbaek M., Hjortdahl P. Sinusitt i allmennpraksis--en diagnostisk utfordring. Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen. 1993 Feb 28;113(6):700–703. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Unger J. M., Shaffer K., Duncavage J. A. Computed tomography in nasal and paranasal sinus disease. Laryngoscope. 1984 Oct;94(10):1319–1324. doi: 10.1288/00005537-198410000-00013. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Williams J. W., Jr, Simel D. L., Roberts L., Samsa G. P. Clinical evaluation for sinusitis. Making the diagnosis by history and physical examination. Ann Intern Med. 1992 Nov 1;117(9):705–710. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-117-9-705. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. van Duijn N. P., Brouwer H. J., Lamberts H. Use of symptoms and signs to diagnose maxillary sinusitis in general practice: comparison with ultrasonography. BMJ. 1992 Sep 19;305(6855):684–687. doi: 10.1136/bmj.305.6855.684. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from BMJ : British Medical Journal are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES