Introduction
Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a common health problem, affecting 5-12% of the whole population. It is often classified as chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) and without nasal polyps (CRSsNP). CRSwNP is commonly found after the age of 20, with a prevalence of 2.7%. In the pediatric population, only 0.1% of the population was reported as CRSwNP despite that this number increases 40% in children with CF(Cystic fibrosis).1,2,3,4
The development of CRSwNP is often attributed to anatomic variation, viral or bacterial infection, and allergy. Agger nasi cells, Haller cells, paradoxical middle turbinate, and concha bullosa of the middle turbinate are common anatomic variations that may lead to rhinostenosis, increasing the risk of the development of CRS. 5,6,7 On the contrary, some studies have suggested that the presence of anatomic variations does not predispose individuals to CRS.
For the pediatric population, the study by Kim et al. showed a higher prevalence of anatomical variations in the pediatric CRS group than in the control group.8 Contrary to Kim’s study, Lusk reported that there was no relationship between CRS and anatomic variations.9 As for pediatric CRSwNP, no studies have explored the correlation between nasal polyps and anatomical variations due to its low prevalence.
In this study, we aimed to report the prevalence of common anatomic variations in Chinese pediatric patients with CRSwNP and to analyze the relationship between anatomic variations and the extent of chronic sinusitis with nasal polyps in children.