Correlation between computed tomography and microbiological results in chronic sinusitis

: This article presents the observed correlation between the advancement of inflammatory lesions in paranasal sinuses found on computed tomography and microbiological specimen results in chronic sinusitis. The examined study group consisted of 28 patients, aged 19-59 years, in whom endoscopic sinus surgery was performed. In each patient prior to planned surgery a sinus CT scan was performed the result of which was scored using the Lund-Mackay scale, bacteriological and mycological examinations of nasal mucous secretion were also performed. In the study group a positive correlation between the CT score point sum and the number of pathogen species (regression test: r = 0.46; p = 0.0141) was found. With each additional pathogen species found the CT grading rose by 2.3 points. We also found that in patients with positive bacterial culture the average CT score rose by 4.4 (ANOVA: F(1,23)= 3.69; p = 0.0333). However no rise was found in the case of fungi and no interaction between bacteria and fungi was found. In cases of advanced sinusitis where a high CT lesion score of is found antimicrobial therapy based on exact microbiological diagnostics should be given in the perioperative period.