The association of allergic sensitization with radiographic sinus opacification.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between allergic sensitization and radiographic sinus inflammation remains unclear.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether specific allergen sensitization is correlated with sinonasal radiographic opacification.

METHODS: Patients with chronic sinonasal symptoms were selected and included if they had allergy testing and a computed tomography (CT) of the paranasal sinuses. Data regarding demographic characteristics, in vitro allergy test results, and comorbidities were collected. CTs were reviewed, and an overall Lund-Mackay score (LMS) was calculated for each patient. A two-sample t-test was used to compare mean LMS between patients who were sensitized and patients who were not sensitized. A multiple linear regression model was used to determine whether a relationship existed among LMS and allergy results, asthma, nasal polyps, immunoglobulin E (IgE) level, medication usage, in-season versus out-of-season CTs, age, and sex. Significance was determined at an alpha level of 0.05.

RESULTS: There were 437 patients included, of whom, 251 had positive specific allergen test results and 186 had negative test results. A total of 282 patients had allergic rhinitis symptoms without a documented diagnosis of sinusitis, and 155 carried a diagnosis of chronic rhinosinusitis. The mean LMS did not differ between patients who were sensitized and patients who were not sensitized (5.56 versus 5.28; p = 0.61). Linear regression demonstrated an increase in LMS in patients with asthma (p = 0.02), male sex (p < 0.01), elevated IgE (p < 0.01), a history of anaphylaxis (p = 0.03), and nasal polyps (p < 0.01). There was a statistically significant decrease in LMS in patients with an in-season CT (p = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS: Patients with a positive specific in vitro allergen test result did not have higher overall rates of radiographic sinus inflammation. Asthma, male sex, polyps, elevated IgE, and a history of anaphylaxis were associated with higher LMS.