A review on sinoscopy in the horse: Traditional and minimally invasive
techniques and sinoscopic treatment of paranasal disease
Abstract
Sinoscopy consists on direct visualization of the paranasal sinuses and
was first conceived for diagnostic purposes using an endoscope through a
skull trephination. Since then, the use and approaches to perform it
have evolved thanks to current advancements in knowledge (sinus anatomy
and pathology) and technology. The aim of this study is to review the
techniques reported to perform traditional and minimally invasive
sinoscopy and to review the current use of sinoscopy to treat paranasal
sinus disease. The history of sinoscopy, as we know it today, is
relatively recent but its use among clinicians is not necessarily
widespread due to the invasiveness of the traditional technique when
compared to imaging techniques. This limitation could be bypassed using
the newer intranasal or extranasal minimally invasive sinoscopic
approaches. These techniques allowed sinoscopic visualization through
natural orifices or minimally invasively created openings. Despite the
potential of these techniques, case selection is still crucial as
visualization can be limited in selected pathologies (i.e: sinus cyst),
some sinuses (i.e: rostral maxillary with intranasal approaches) and if
haemorraghe or severe exudate accumulation is found. Nevertheless,
sinoscopy offers a diagnostic rate superior to traditional imaging and
it is an alternative diagnostic tool when advanced imaging techniques,
such as CT, are not available. In recent years, sinoscopic treatment is
progressively replacing the use of sinusotomies to treat most sinus
pathologies. Sinoscopic treatment yields a high resolution rate while
complications are kept low. Familiarization with sinoscopic techniques
and in-depth anatomic sinus knowledge will likely make sinoscopy the
gold standard technique to treat sinus disease in the short future.