Paranasal sinus etiology of headaches and facial pain

The otolaryngologist is obliged to consider chronic headache attacks because it is probable that people afflicted with chronic headache claim to have "sinusitis" more than any other related chief complaint. While only a small percentage of these patients actually have headaches of sinus etiology, sinusitis must be differentiated from all other forms of headache. Otolaryngologists who are primarily interested in headache may require less consultation with neurologic and neurosurgical colleagues than otolaryngologists who are primarily interested in sinus surgery and the treatment of sinusitis. In any case, all otolaryngologists should be conversant with the causes of headache and well trained in the treatment of headaches, particularly those related to the paranasal sinuses.