SINUS DISEASE IN THE BONE-MARROW TRANSPLANT POPULATION - INCIDENCE, RISK-FACTORS, AND COMPLICATIONS

BACKGROUND: Fever associated with sinus disease in the immunocompromis ed bone marrow transplant recipient requires prompt evaluation and the rapy. Very little is known about the incidence, risk factors, and sequ elae of nonsurgically treated sinus disease in this population. METHOD S: A retrospective review of 107 consecutive allogeneic and autologous bone marrow transplant recipients from August 1987 to July 1989 was p erformed to determine (1) the overall. incidence of sinus disease: (2) factors that influence the development of sinus disease; and (3) the sequelae of sinus disease treated nonsurgically. RESULTS: Overall 33 ( 31%) of 107 bone marrow transplant recipients had sinus disease define d as a radiographic abnormality with clinical symptoms. Eleven (10%) o f 107 recipients had preexisting sinus disease, Sinus disease develope d in 22 (21%) of 107 recipients after bone marrow transplantation, Sin us abnormalities were significantly higher among allografted bone marr ow transplant recipients than among autografted recipients (p = 0.027) , The diagnosis, stage of disease, cytoreductive regimen, or graft-vs. -host disease were not different between recipients in whom sinus dise ase did and did not develop. There were no deaths as a result of sinus complications. CONCLUSIONS: Sinus disease developed in 21% of the stu died population after bone marrow transplantation, Allogeneic recipien ts had a higher incidence of sinus disease than autologous recipients, There were no deaths attributed to sinus complications, All sinus dis ease in this bone marrow transplant population was treated medically. No patient required surgical intervention either before or after bone marrow transplantation.