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Predicting acute maxillary sinusitis in a general practice population
J G Hansen1, H Schmidt, J Rosborg
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Aalborg County Hospital, Denmark.
Objective:
To evaluate the diagnostic value of symptoms, signs, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and C reactive protein for acute maxillary sinusitis.
Design:
Prospective cohort study.
Setting:
Danish general practice in cooperation with the otorhinolaryngology and neuroradiology department at Aalborg County Hospital.
Subjects:
174 patients aged 18-65 years who were suspected by the general practitioner of having acute maxillary sinusitis.
Main Outcome Measure:
The independent association of symptoms, signs, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and concentration of C reactive protein in patients with acute maxillary sinusitis defined as purulent or mucopurulent antral aspirate.
Results:
Only raised erythrocyte sedimentation rate (P = 0.01) and raised C reactive protein (P = 0.007) were found to be independently associated with a diagnosis of acute maxillary sinusitis. The combination of the two variables had a sensitivity of 0.82 and a specificity of 0.57.
Conclusion:
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C reactive protein are useful diagnostic criteria for acute maxillary sinusitis.