Complications of Frontal Sinusitis. Bibliographic Review

Introduction and objective: Frontal rhinosinusitis usually resolves with medical therapy. However, when the sinonasal infection persists, anatomy of this region can lead to severe life-threatening complications due spreading beyond sinus namely intracranial compartment. This review aims highlight more recent developments on management frontal its complications, from a practical perspective that is essential accurately diagnose these complications. Method: A literature was performed by authors. PubMed database searched relevant terms, which included following: «frontal sinusitis complications», «pediatric sinusitis» imaging». Relevant scientific treaties were also used as ancillary review. comprehensive English Portuguese carried out, including papers published between 2000 2021. Our inclusion criteria clinical trials, expert opinion papers, reviews, systematic reviews guidelines. Duplicate articles, case reports or very small sample studies excluded prior general screening. Results: Twenty-one met criteria. Most them concerned adult population, four directly addressing pediatric population. Two guidelines, one large retrospective cohort study two selected. Twelve articles selected, comprising most addressed. Four textbooks consulted for Discussion: Morbidity mortality complicated are mainly related involvement. Although rate higher before era antibiotic therapy, abscess still carries high mortality. be periorbital cellulitis, formation, both subperiosteal in bone anterior wall (Pott puffy tumor), and, rarely, cavernous thrombosis. Intracranial include subdural epidural empyema, meningitis, intracerebral abscess. These will reviewed paper. Conclusions: Complications life threatening, proximity Due availability, CT frequently first imaging technique emergency setting. The excellent high-spatial resolution make preferred examination presurgical planning. contrast-enhanced MRI far superior soft-tissue evaluation should considered whenever an orbitary complication suspected. mostly treated intravenous antibiotics surgical drainage procedures. Early aggressive intervention has decreased morbidity shortened hospital stay, although significant occur.