FLEXIBLE FIBEROPTIC RHINOSCOPY IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF NASAL POLYPS IN CYSTIC-FIBROSIS

The incidence of nasal polyps in patients with CF in various studies v aries from 6.7% to 48%. Fiberoptic rhinoscopy, a safe and minimally in vasive diagnostic procedure, has the major advantage over routine phys ical examination of the nares because of the ability to examine the no se beyond the nasal vestibule. In examinations of both nostrils of 34 patients with CF age 4-30 years, nasal polyps were detected by rhinosc opic examination, bur missed by physical examination in 17 (25%) of th e nostrils. In 7% (5/64) of the nostrils in this series, rhinoscopy ru led out polyps that were reportedly identified on physician examinatio n. This study confirms that even a careful physical examination of the nose is often inadequate to uncover significant nasal pathology such as nasal polyps.