At the investigated dose of AZM over 3 months, no significant benefit was found over placebo. Possible reasons could be disease severity in the investigated group, under-dosage of AZM and under-powering of the study. Therefore, more research is urgently required.

Clin. Otolaryngol. 2010, 35, 455–461 Objectives:  Determine the incidence and severity of osteitis in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis using a new Global Osteitis Scoring Scale. Design:  Validation and prospective case–control study. Setting:  Academic Tertiary Otolaryngology Department (Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam). Participants:  A prospective series of 102 patients undergoing a computed tomography (CT) sinuses as part of their evaluation for chronic rhinosinusitis between January and May 2008 (study group) and an age‐ and gender‐matched control group of 68 non‐rhinosinusitis patients. Seventy‐eight of the chronic rhinosinusitis patients completed the nasal subset of the RhinoSinusitis Outcome Measure (RSOM‐31) and visual analogue scales. Their CT scans were assessed for osteitis using a newly developed Global Osteitis Scoring Scale. A subsample of 35 scans were additionally scored by a second otolaryngologist and a radiologist. Main outcome measures:  Global Osteitis Scoring Scale. Results:  The interrater variability of Global Osteitis Scoring Scale was low (average intraclass correlation coefficient: 0.94). Forty per cent of the chronic rhinosinusitis group and none of the control group had evidence of clinically significant osteitis. In the chronic rhinosinusitis group (102 patients), the severity of osteitis was correlated with Lund–Mackay (L–M) score (P < 0.001), duration of symptoms (P < 0.01) and previous surgery (P < 0.001), rising in incidence with increasing number of previous operations. There was no association between osteitis and age, gender, smoking, co‐existing asthma, allergy or Sumpter’s triad. Additionally, there was no correlation between osteitis and symptom burden including headache, facial pain and nasal subset score of the RhinoSinusitis Outcome Measure. Conclusion:  In patients with recalcitrant chronic rhinosinusitis who have undergone multiple surgeries in the past, the incidence of osteitis can be as high as 64%. It does not seem to be associated with more troublesome symptoms; however, it is strongly associated with previous sinus surgery, which may be a manifestation of a shared endpoint (underlying recalcitrant disease).

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C-4.

Radical surgery improves the physical burden of chronic rhinosinusitis and pain experience in patients with therapy resistant chronic rhinosinusitis.

INTRODUCTION: There is increasing interest in the underlying bone of the paranasal sinuses as an important player in recalcitrant Chronic Rhinosinusitis. Close inspection of CT scans often reveals areas of increased bone density and irregular thickening of the sinus walls. This osteitic bone could at least partly explain, why inflammation of the mucosa persists. METHODS: We searched PubMed for all relevant studies, using the following text words: chronic rhinosinusitis, sinusitis, bone, osteitis, osteomyelitis, histology, and treatment. Cited references of retrieved articles were also examined. RESULTS: Background, available data, potential diagnostic options, treatment implications, and suggestions for future research are discussed. CONCLUSION: Osteitis is associated with CRS, however its role in the pathogenic process is not well defined. More research is needed.

To determine the optimal site of throat culture for the detection of potential pathogens by comparing culture results from the tonsillar surface and the posterior pharyngeal wall in children selected for adenotonsillectomy and in children without upper respiratory disease. Cotton culture swabs were taken from the tonsillar surface and the posterior pharyngeal wall of 50 children selected for adenotonsillectomy for symptoms of recurrent tonsillitis and/or adenotonsillar hypertrophy and of 50 children without upper respiratory disease. Potential respiratory pathogens were identified. In the overall group (n = 100), positive culture results were found in 67 posterior pharyngeal wall samples and 47 tonsillar surface samples (P = 0.001). Haemophilus influenzae was the most frequently isolated micro-organism both in the posterior pharyngeal wall and the tonsillar surface samples; 55 and 35%, respectively (P = 0.001). Group A beta-haemolytic streptococci were found in the samples of the posterior pharyngeal wall and the tonsillar surface in 17 and 13%, respectively (P = 0.2). When dealing with patients with sore throat, sampling both tonsillar surfaces is enough for the detection of group A beta-haemolytic streptococci. When detection of other bacteria is also important, such as for research purposes, the posterior pharyngeal wall should be sampled as well.

Objectives: To assess the effectiveness and factors associated with restenosis after Draf type III (Endoscopic Modified Lothrop) frontal sinus drainage procedure. Design: Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data. Patients: A hundred and twenty two consecutive patients undergoing Draf III procedure for recalcitrant chronic frontal rhinosinusitis (CRS) (71%), frontal sinus mucocoele (15%), benign frontal sinus tumours (9%) and cystic fibrosis with severe CRS (5%) were followed up for an average of 33 months. Outcome measures: Symptom burden (Visual Analogue Scale and Rhinosinusitis Outcome Measure), patency of neo-ostium and revision surgery. Results: At the end of follow up, ninety percent of patients had a patent neo-ostium, while 88% were either clinically better or completely asymptomatic. Thirty-nine patients required endoscopic revision surgery and 9 eventually underwent frontal sinus obliteration. Sixty percent of revision operations were performed during the first two years. RSOM showed a significant improvement in both general and nasal symptoms while on a VAS, headache improved significantly. The only factor weakly associated with re-stenosis was the presence of allergy. There were no major complications during any of the procedures. Conclusion: Draf III Procedure is safe and effective for patients who have failed conventional frontal sinus procedures and a valid alternative to frontal sinus obliteration. Although the revision rate may appear to be quite significant, it can often be performed as an outpatient procedure and needs to be balanced against the reduced morbidity and the ease of follow-up.