Sinonasal Polyposis

Axial CT images of the sinuses show complete opacification of the maxillary, ethmoid and sphenoid sinuses with widening of the sinus ostia (yellow stars) and opacity in the nasal passages (blue stars) in this patient with history of allergic rhinitis.

Facts: Sinonasal Polyposis

• Common finding in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (2% - 16% of cases)
• Soft, yellow-white nasal polyps that consist of edematous stroma with eosinophilic infiltrates, covered by respiratory epithelium
• Predisposing factors: asthma, fungal sinusitis, Kartagener syndrome, ASA syndrome, cystic fibrosis
• Can be seen in healthy individual with no predisposition to polyps
• Usually multiple, bilateral polyps. Majority of polyps arise from uncinate-turbinate-infundibulum space and bulla-hiatus seminularis-infundibulum
• On CT, there is opacification of the sinuses with widening of the sinus ostium and sinonasal passages

References

1. Maroldi R, Nicolai P, Antonelli AR. Imaging in Treatment Planning for Sinonasal Diseases, 2005.

2. Yousem DM, Da Motta AC. Head and Neck Imaging Case Review Series, 2nd ed, 2006.