Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Rhinosinusitis physical examination
Introduction
Overview
Overview
Examination of the nose with a speculum or otoscope may reveal mucosal edema, narrowing of the middle meatus, purulent rhinorrhea, and other findings.
Physical Examination
Physical Examination
Common physical examination findings in rhinosinusitis include:[1]
- Pain and tenderness on palpation of the involved sinus: forehead (frontal sinuses), upper jaw (maxillary sinuses), in the eyelids and around the eyes (ethmoid sinuses)
- Purulent rhinorrhea in the nose or posterior pharynx
- Examination of the nose using a speculum or otoscope may reveal the following findings:
- Purulent nasal discharge
- Mucosal edema
- Narrowing of the middle meatus
- Inferior turbinate hypertrophy
- Deviated nasal septum
- Nasal polyps
References
References
- ↑ Rosenfeld RM (2016). “CLINICAL PRACTICE. Acute Sinusitis in Adults”. N. Engl. J. Med. 375 (10): 962–70. doi:10.1056/NEJMcp1601749. PMID 27602668.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Dima Nimri, M.D. [2]