Sinonasal polyposis: investigation by direct coronal CT.

To demonstrate the typical clinical and CT features of sinonasal polyposis, we reviewed the clinical records and preoperative direct coronal CT scans of 35 patients with surgically proven disease. Symptoms included progressive nasal stuffiness (100%), rhinorrhea (69%), facial pain (60%), headache (43%) and anosmia (17%). We found associations with rhinitis (46%), asthma (29%) and aspirin sensitivity (9%). Coronal CT features included polypoid masses in the nasal cavity (91%), partial or complete pansinus opacification (90%), enlargement of infundibula (89%), bony attenuation of the ethmoid trabeculae (63%) and nasal septum (37%), opacified ethmoid sinuses with convex lateral walls (51%) and air-fluid levels (43%). The latter feature correlated with symptoms and signs of acute sinusitis in only 40% of patients. Recognition of sinonasal polyposis is important to the endoscopic surgeon since it can be the most troubling sinonasal inflammatory disease to manage due to its aggressive nature and tendency to recur despite appropriate treatment.