Diagnostic Criteria for Odontogenic Sinusitis: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Dental Medicine
• Radiology

Background:

• Odontogenic sinusitis is a common cause of paranasal sinus infections.
• Existing diagnostic criteria for odontogenic sinusitis lack standardization and vary significantly across studies.
• This heterogeneity hinders consistent diagnosis and research in the field.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and analyze the diverse diagnostic criteria currently used for odontogenic sinusitis.
• To identify commonalities and discrepancies in the definition and etiological identification of the condition.

Main Methods:

• Conducted systematic literature searches across major databases (Medline, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane, ClinicalTrials.gov) from 2009-2019.
• Included human original studies in English, French, German, Spanish, or Italian, excluding single case reports.
• Extracted and assessed data on diagnostic criteria for sinusitis and odontogenic focus identification, including clinical, endoscopic, radiologic, and multidisciplinary evaluations.

Main Results:

• 63 out of 1,000 unique citations met the eligibility criteria; most were retrospective case series.
• Only 49 studies reported diagnostic criteria, with limited adherence to published guidelines.
• Studies frequently developed custom clinical, endoscopic, and radiologic criteria, with computed tomography being the most common radiologic method (53 papers).

Conclusions:

• Current diagnostic criteria for odontogenic sinusitis are highly heterogeneous.
• Establishing standardized diagnostic criteria for both sinusitis and its odontogenic origins is essential.
• Standardization will foster research collaboration, improve outcome evaluations, and enhance understanding of treatment strategies.