Quantification of Artemisia pollen deposition in the paranasal sinuses following functional endoscopic sinus surgery

Background: To provide quantification of the postoperative Artemisia pollen deposition as well as potential contribution from allergen distribution in the sinonasal cavities for patients underwent FESS. Methods: Employing the largest cohort of post-FESS patients, Artemisia pollen deposition in 16 postoperative sinonasal cavity models were analyzed. The effects of maxillary sinus ostia diameter on allergen deposition were investigated. Results: Artemisia pollen had higher deposition in the ethmoid, maxillary and sphenoid sinuses following FESS, for example with (3.25 ± 4.14)% vs.(0.79 ± 1.34)% in the ethmoid sinus; allergen deposition increased significantly when the hydraulic diameters of maxillary sinus ostia >10 mm; post-FESS pollen deposition was seen to reduce consequently in the middle turbinate with (5.24 ± 6.92)% vs.(13.59 ± 8.98)%. Conclusions: Artemisia pollen could enter all sinuses following FESS and allergen deposition may contribute to the recurrence of postoperative nasosinusitis; size of the maxillary sinus ostia significantly affects the pollen deposition rate; Meanwhile, Artemisia pollen deposition in post-FESS patients is seen to reduce in the middle turbinate area when compared with healthy adults.