Prevalence of sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus as a silent disease

The aim of this research was to determine the prevalence of sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus disease (SPSD) based on clinical examination and histopathological evaluation. Between January 1, 2010 and December 30, 2010, 432 corpses were evaluated in the Istanbul Central Office of Forensic Medicine Institute of the Turkish Ministry of Health. 41 of the 432 cases (9.4 %) had SPSD-related findings. 20 (4.6 %) had at least one sinus tract (clinical SPSD) and all of them had at least three positive histopathologic parameters. 16 of 41 cases (3.7 %) were clinically normal but had at least three positive histopathologic parameters (silent SPSD). Prevalence of SPSD with clinical examination is 4.6 %. These data are according to the literature. But with inclusion of the silent cases, the prevalence rate increases to 8.3 %. We conclude that inflammatory process does not result in SPSD in nearly half of the cases.