Correlation Between SN-5 and Computed Tomography in Children with Chronic Rhinosinusitis

Objectives/Hypothesis: Symptom score questionnaires for evaluation of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) in adults does not correlate with computed tomography (CT) scan scores of paranasal sinuses. The SN-5 is a validated symptom score questionnaire for the evaluation of CRS in children. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the correlation of the SN-5 with the CT score in children. Study Design: Retrospective review of prospectively collected data. Methods: Thirty-two children between the ages of 2 years and 12 years were seen prospectively for symptoms of CRS. The mean age was 7.7 years (range, 3.6-11.5; SD = 2.4). The caretakers completed the SN-5 during their visit when a CT scan of the paranasal sinuses was obtained. Results: The mean SN-5 score was 4.1 (SD = 1.03) and the mean Lund-Mackay CT score was 6.8 (SD = 4.3). There was a significant correlation between the SN-5 score and Lund-MacKay CT score (rho = 0.68; P < .0001) for all children in the study. Twelve (38%) children had asthma, and for those children the correlation was poorer and did not reach statistical significance (rho = 0.57; P =.057). For nonasthmatics the correlation was stronger (rho = 0.73; P = .0003). Conclusions: Symptom score questionnaire (SN-5) correlated to the disease severity as measured by the Lund-MacKay CT scan score. This is different from what has been found in adults. These findings have positive implications for the follow-up of treatment of CRS in children because the frequent use of CT scans in children is discouraged due to concern for radiation exposure.