Isolated sphenoid sinusitis.

Isolated sphenoid sinusitis is a relatively rare clinical entity and can cause severe complications. Diagnostic nasal endoscopy using Hopkins telescopes and coronal and axial paranasal-sinus CT made the diagnosis of the sphenoid sinus disease easier. Eight out of 221 patients with paranasal sinus infection refractory to medical treatment--and treated surgically at the 2nd ENT Clinic of Ankara Numune Hospital between 1990-1995--had isolated sphenoid sinus infection. The most common symptom was headache felt in the retro-orbital region. Surgical procedure was intranasal endoscopic approach to the sphenoid sinus. The symptoms of the patients with isolated sphenoid sinusitis were completely resolved after surgery. As the literature is reviewed, it is concluded that endoscopic approach to the sphenoid sinus disease is the most appropriate method of surgery in order to reduce intra-operative morbidity and mortality.