Relationship between clinical sinusitis symptoms and sinus CT severity in pediatric post bone marrow transplant and immunocompetent patients

Since typical inflammatory responses may be diminished in children following bone marrow transplant (BMT), computed tomography (CT) imaging of the sinuses has been increasingly ordered to diagnose sinusitis in this group. The objective of this study was to determine the association between clinical sinusitis symptoms and sinus opacification on CT scans in post BMT versus immunocompetent children. Our sample was comprised of 64 post BMT and 86 immunocompetent children with sinus CT scans. CT sinus opacification was scored using the modified Lund–Mackay staging system. The relationship between clinical sinusitis symptoms (rhinorrhea, nasal congestion, cough, headache, and facial pain) and opacification was compared for the two groups. The severity of sinus opacification in the BMT group was significantly higher compared to the immunocompetent group. In combined patient groups the odds ratio (OR) for moderate/severe sinusitis was significantly elevated for rhinorrhea (OR = 3.00; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.27–7.12), cough (OR = 2.80; 95% CI, 1.22–6.42), and having either rhinorrhea, nasal congestion, or cough (OR = 4.76; 95% CI, 1.71–13.24). While the immunocompetent group had a greater number of sinusitis symptoms compared to the post BMT group, both groups had a significant increase in the severity on CT with increasing number of symptoms. Conclusion: In post BMT patients, our data demonstrated higher odds of moderate/severe sinusitis on CT scans associated with rhinorrhea, cough or nasal congestion. These finding suggest that in post BMT children, detailed sinus history may still play a vital role in the diagnosis of sinusitis.