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Differential Diagnosis Using Diagnostic Imaging and Endonasal Endoscopic Biopsy

Katsuhisa Ikeda, MD; Norika Tanno, MD; Hideaki Suzuki, MD; Takeshi Oshima, MD; Shigeyuki Kano, MD; Tomonori Takasaka, MD

Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1997;123(2):198-200.

Abstract
Objective
To evaluate the diagnostic algorithms leading to minimal-access surgery in unilateral sinonasal disease without evidence of bone destruction.

Design
In selected patients, we assigned qualitative preoperative diagnoses by performing computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and endonasal endoscopic biopsy and prospectively analyzed the results for 3 years, from 1992 to 1995.

Patients
Of 278 untreated patients who complained of nasal and sinus-related symptoms and underwent CT examinations, 130 were found to have unilateral sinonasal abnormalities without detectable changes in the bone structure.

Results
Accurate preoperative diagnoses were made using CT in 75% of the patients with chronic sinusitis with or without nasal polyps and 85% of the patients with mucoceles. In the remaining patients, preoperative diagnoses for both diseases were made using MRI. All fungal and vascular diseases were accurately diagnosed using MRI alone. Although neither CT nor MRI were useful in the qualitative diagnosis of neoplasm, the presence of neoplastic conditions, except papilloma, was indicated by MRI. Using endonasal endoscopy, biopsy was an accurate diagnostic tool, with minimal tissue damage, in 88% of the neoplasms.

Conclusions
In differentiating untreated unilateral sinonasal disease without evidence of bone destruction, we conclude that CT is the first modality of diagnostic imaging and MRI is more sensitive than CT in identifying fungal disease and angiofibroma. Furthermore, MRI is helpful when neoplasm is indicated, but it is not an accurate diagnostic tool. The endonasal endoscopic approach for obtaining pathologic specimens is a qualitative diagnostic tool in the diagnosis of sinonasal neoplasm.

Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1997;123:198-200

Author Affiliations
From the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.

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