Last reviewed: 6 Feb 2021
Last updated: 03 Sep 2020
Summary
Definition
History and exam
Key diagnostic factors
- nasal obstruction
- nasal discharge
- facial pain/pressure
- direct visualisation
Risk factors
- asthma
- eosinophilic granulomatous polyangiitis (EGPA, also known as Churg-Strauss syndrome)
- allergic fungal rhinosinusitis (AFRS)
- aspirin sensitivity
- genetic predisposition
Diagnostic investigations
Investigations to consider
- CT sinuses
- biopsy
- nasal smear and culture
- FBC with differential
- antineutrophil cytoplasm antibodies (ANCA)
- erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)
- skin-prick tests/serum allergen-specific IgE tests
- nasal airway assessment
- aspirin challenge
- olfaction studies
- quality-of-life measures
Treatment algorithm
Contributors
Authors

Consultant Rhinologist
Charing Cross Hospital
Honorary Senior Lecturer
Imperial College
London
UK
Disclosures
HAS declares that he has no competing interests.
Consultant Allergist
Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Trust
London
UK
Disclosures
GS declares that he has no competing interests.
Dr Hesham A. Saleh and Dr Guy Scadding would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr Richard J. D. Hewitt and Dr Romana Kuchai, previous contributors to this topic. RJDH and RK declare that they have no competing interests.
Peer reviewers
Rhinologist
Amsterdam University Medical Centers
Amsterdam
Netherlands
Disclosures
SR declares that he has no competing interests.
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