Use of symptoms and signs to diagnose maxillary sinusitis in general practice: comparison with ultrasonography.

摘要: OBJECTIVE--To establish the incidence of maxillary sinusitis in general practice and predictive value symptoms signs. DESIGN--Population based study. SETTING--9 practices with 15,220 patients aged 15 years older on list. PATIENTS--400 441 episodes whom practitioners intended to confirm or exclude sinusitis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Results ultrasonography signs associated positive results. RESULTS--212 were confirmed by ultrasonography. 15.7 occurred per 1000 adults year. The five beginning common cold (beta coefficient = 1.035), purulent rhinorrhoea (0.996), pain at bending (0.950), unilateral (0.640), teeth (0.606) results General practitioners9 clinical diagnoses correct 177 episodes, false 88, negative 22, uncertain 154. With an algorithm using weighted 243 would have been correct, but 110 remain 44 cases missed. CONCLUSION--The improve diagnostic accuracy practitioners, incorrect cannot be avoided.