[Clinical relevance of CT of paranasal sinuses prior to bone marrow transplantation].

PURPOSE

To investigate the clinical necessity of CT of the paranasal sinuses before bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cell transplantation.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

80 patients with malignant disease underwent coronal CT of the paranasal sinuses prior to transplantation to exclude sinusitis.

RESULTS

CT revealed sinusitis requesting therapy in 17/80 patients (21%). Patients with leukaemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma were significantly more affected. Chronic sinusitis was found in two patients, mucosal swelling not requesting therapy in 22, and normal findings in 39.

CONCLUSION

CT of the paranasal sinuses is advised in patients suffering haemoblastoses with an increased risk of infectious complications during the transplantation phase, because pathological findings can be expected in 21% of the patients. Diagnosis and therapy of an infectious focus within the paranasal sinuses is especially important prior to allogenous bone marrow transplantation.