Many factors are considered in making a diagnosis of chronic maxillary sinusitis. The most important are: (1) history, (2) symptoms, (3) physical observations, (4) x-ray examination, (5) cytologic examination and (6) irrigation. Space will allow me to dwell briefly on only a few points.
A history of frequent so-called "colds" is usually elicitated from a patient suffering from chronic sinusitis. In my work I come in contact constantly with an erroneous idea, held both by the laity and by many of the medical fraternity, in regard to repeated and recurring so-called "colds." A cold is a self-limited disease. No one suffers from repeated attacks in rapid succession, and one attack confers a definite immunity that lasts usually from six months to a year. When so-called colds recur in rapid succession, one is dealing with subacute or chronic sinusitis.
Among the symptoms, discharge is the most important evidence. Patients will