Systemic corticosteroids for allergic fungal rhinosinusitis and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis: A comparative study

OBJECTIVES: To compare the effect of preoperative high-dose systemic corticosteroids on the radiographic and endoscopic appearance of allergic fungal rhinosinusitis (AFRS) and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP). STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Eight AFRS and 10 CRSwNP patients underwent computed tomographic (CT) scans and then received preoperative 1 mg/kg prednisone for 10 days. CT scans were repeated 1 day before surgery and compared with pretreatment scans (Lund-MacKay radiologic scoring system). The endoscopic appearance was recorded intraoperatively. RESULTS: The score dropped from 16 (66.4%) to 4.75 in the AFRS group and from 18.4 (23%) to 14.1 in the CRSwNP group (P = 0.0064). Intraoperatively, most sinus mucosal surfaces appeared normal in the AFRS patients but were markedly edematous in the CRSwNP patients. CONCLUSION: Radiographic response of AFRS to systemic corticosteroids is significantly greater compared with CRSwNP. This finding is supported by endoscopic observation. (C) 2007 American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation. All rights reserved.