Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and rhinosinusitis: the utility of screening sinus computed tomography.

Objectives/hypothesis: To compare prehematopoietic stem cell transplantation (SCT) sinus computed tomography (CT) scans to post-SCT sinus CT scans and to evaluate the relationship between pre-SCT sinus CT scans and the incidence of otolaryngology consultation after SCT.

Study Design: Retrospective chart review.

Methods: Charts of 228 adult SCT patients from January 2003 to June 2009 with pre-SCT sinus CT scans were reviewed. Data gathered included diagnosis, type of SCT, otolaryngology referral requests, and rhinosinusitis management. Pre- and post-SCT sinus CT scans were scored using the staging system introduced by Lund and Mackay.

Results: Two hundred thirty-nine SCTs were performed on the 228 patients included in this study. No disease was identified on 25.1% of pre-SCT CT scans, mild sinus inflammation was identified on 60.7% of scans, 11.3% had moderate inflammation, and 2.9% had severe inflammation. Pre-SCT scans were found to be predictive of post-SCT CT scans. A significant proportion of patients demonstrated worsening of their Lund-Mackay score post-SCT. Pre-SCT CT scores had no predictive ability for otolaryngology consultations.

Conclusions: Pre-SCT CT scan scores are associated with post-SCT scan scores; disease severity on CT may worsen following SCT and may be useful for stratifying patients into surgical versus non-surgical candidates. Further study is needed to outline the benefit of sinus surgery in these patients.