Imaging of Antrochoanal Polyposis

Abstract

Objective : The aim of this study was to evaluate the common radiological features in initial and post operative follow up imaging of patients proved to have antrochoanal polyposis, and who were treated surgically, and to evaluate post operative clinical improvement of this sample. Methods : A total number of 54 patients ages between 12 and 46 years, with mean age of 21.3 years, who proved to have ACP investigated by CT-Scan during a 3 year period (between May 2009 and February 2012) were retrospectively evaluated and follow up imaging CT-Scan was performed for this group of patients. The main presenting clinical symptom of the selected patients was nasal obstruction. We selected a coronal sinus CT-Scan as referral imaging modality for this study and according to which we made our calculations and conclusions. Results : Unilateral polyposis was found in 38 patients (70.4%) and bilateral in 16 patients ( 29.6%). All patients were operated on by Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS). The patients were followed up by CT-Scan axial and coronal views at 4-6 weeks post operatively and only in 7 patients we recorded a post operative inflammatory finding of which in 2 patients the diagnosis was recurrent antrochoanal polyp. Conclusion : We conclude that CT-Scan was very accurate in diagnosing antrochoanal polyp in pre and post operative assessment and the recurrence of this disease was very minimal according to follow up clinical and imaging results. The Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS) was very effective in preservation of normal antral mucosa with minimal complications in post operative follow up.