Pre- and postoperative imaging analysis for frontal sinus disease following conservative partial middle turbinate resection.

The prudence of partial or complete middle turbinate resection during endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) is controversial. The greatest concern regarding partial resection relates to the effect on the frontal recess and the development of frontal sinus disease. The purpose of this study was to radiographically evaluate the frontal sinus in patients who had undergone ESS with partial conservative middle turbinate resection. We reviewed the charts and operative records from 195 consecutive cases of ESS performed by a single surgeon (JFB) over a two-year period. Thirty-three of 117 patients who had undergone ESS with conservative partial middle turbinate resection without frontal recess exploration agreed to return for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of their sinuses. The preoperative computed tomography (CT) scans and postoperative MR images were reviewed and graded (1-3) by a single neuroradiologist. Significant frontal sinus disease (grades 2 and 3) was seen in 15 of 52 sides preoperatively (29%), and in 14 sides postoperatively (27%). During the postoperative MRI studies, only six frontal sinus sides demonstrated minimal mucosal thickening (grade 1) which had not been apparent on preoperative CT. This radiographic analysis suggests that conservative partial middle turbinate resection during ESS does not adversely affect the frontal sinus. We believe that the surgical technique employed when resecting the middle turbinate, and the avoidance of unnecessary dissection in the recess are both important factors in preventing the development of frontal sinus disease following ESS.