Complications of Sinusitis

From 1982 to 1992, 65 patients presented to our service with sinusitis complications. In this report we will analyze our clinical material with emphasis on the type of complications, clinical presentations, and radiologic findings. The most common complication was orbital (83.1%), followed by intracranial (18.5%) and bony (7.7%). There was a higher incidence of complications in the second decade of life (44.6%), and 83.2% of the cases occurred in the third decade of life. The main complaints were orbital swelling (63.1%), fever (33.8%), headache (32.3%), and rhinorrhea (21.5%). The predominant signs were eyelid swelling (73.8%) and rhinorrhea (64.6%). The most frequent radiologic findings (x-ray, CT, MRI) were pansinusitis (40%), maxilloethmoidal sinusitis (24.6%), and maxillary sinusitis (13.8%). All patients were treated with intravenous antibiotics, and surgery was performed in 50.8% of the patients. Almost all patients (98.5%) had a good outcome, and one patient died (cavernous sinus thrombosis). Complicated sinusitis can be a life-threatening condition. CT and MRI are a great aid in the diagnosis of these complications.