Correlation between computed tomography scores and symptomatic improvement after endoscopic sinus surgery

The aim of the study was to determine the correlation between preoperative computed tomography scores and the improvement of symptom scores in patients treated with functional endoscopic sinus surgery.

Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data.

Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data of patients undergoing functional endoscopic sinus surgery at a tertiary care medical center over a 2-year period for rhinosinusitis refractory to medical therapy was performed. Computed tomography scans were graded according to the Lund-Mackay system. Patient symptom scores were recorded from the 20-item sinonasal outcome test (SNOT-20) inventory preoperatively and at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. Correlation was assessed by the Pearson correlation coefficient (r).

One hundred thirteen patients were identified with 1-year follow-up. The mean preoperative computed tomography grade was 13.2 with a mean SNOT-20 symptom score of 30.6. Preoperative CT scores did not correlate with preoperative symptom scores (r = 0.314). The SNOT-20 symptom scores improved 72%, 75%, and 77% at 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up, respectively, from preoperative values. In addition, there was no correlation between preoperative computed tomography scores and percentage of improvement at 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up (r = -0.003, r = -0.015, and r = -0.059, respectively).

The severity of rhinosinusitis on preoperative computed tomography scan does not predict the severity of symptoms as assessed by the SNOT-20 inventory in patients undergoing functional endoscopic sinus surgery. Further, computed tomography scores fail to predict the amount of symptomatic improvement after functional endoscopic sinus surgery. Patients receive a mean reduction in symptom scores of 77% after treatment with functional endoscopic sinus surgery.