Tomographic Evaluation of Paranasal Sinus findings in COVID-19-Positive Patients

Background: Sinonasal symptoms are important in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 during the diagnostic process. This study aimed to evaluate paranasal sinus findings on computed tomography by comparing patients diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 and those who were negative for coronavirus disease 2019.

Methods: This retrospectively planned study included 163 patients (89 males and 74 females) with positive coronavirus disease 2019 polymerase chain reaction results and 104 patients with negative results for coronavirus disease 2019 (56 males and 48 females) who came to the emergency department for related symptoms. Cranial computed tomography scans routinely performed in symptomatic patients were assessed using the Lund–Mackay scoring system. All sinuses, the ostiomeatal unit, and the right-sided and left-sided sinuses were assessed separately. Mucosal opacities of less than 1 mm were scored as 0, partial opacities that did not completely obliterate the sinus were scored as 1, and opacities that completely obliterated the sinus were scored as 2.

Results: In computed tomography scans performed, the mean total Lund–Mackay scores for right-sided sinusitis and left-sided sinusitis in coronavirus disease 2019-positive patients were 1.29 ± 1.9 and 1.26 ± 1.8, respectively. The mean total Lund–Mackay score for right-sided sinusitis in coronavirus disease 2019-negative patients was 1.26 ± 1.7, while it was 1.24 ± 1.7 for left-sided sinusitis. Statistical analysis revealed no significant pathological changes in the paranasal sinuses in the symptomatic coronavirus disease 2019-positive patient group (P >.05)

Conclusion: Although coronavirus disease 2019 is a disease with prominent sinonasal symptoms and sampling of the nasal cavity and nasopharynx is essential for diagnosis, no significant difference was determined between the coronavirus disease 2019-positive patient group and the coronavirus disease 2019-negative patient group in terms of paranasal sinus findings

Cite this article as: Akbal Çufalı Ş, Yağmur AR, Paksoy ZB, Çakmak MF, Özcan KM, Aypak A. Tomographic evaluation of paranasal sinus findings in covid-19-positive patients. Eur J Rhinol Allerg 2022;5(2):45-48.