OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the oropharyngeal red streak sign for diagnosing acute sinusitis.
DESIGN: Exploratory cohort study.
SETTING: A Veterans Affairs medical center urgent care center.
PARTICIPANTS: Sixty consecutive subjects presenting with nasal symptoms lasting 4 weeks or less.
MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Each subject underwent a structured history and physical examination, followed by a sinus computed tomography (CT) scan.
Acute sinusitis was defined by an air-fluid level or opacification of 1 or more sinuses on CT imaging. Twenty-seven subjects
were diagnosed with sinusitis. A localized red streak in the lateral recess of the oropharynx was associated with sinusitis,
with a positive likelihood ratio (LR+) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of 2.11 (1.23, 3.63) and a negative likelihood ratio
(LR−) and 95% CI of 0.44 (0.24, 0.83). Opacity on maxillary or frontal sinus transillumination was also associated with sinusitis
(LR+ of 1.89; CI 1.03, 3.32 and LR− of 0.56; CI 0.32, 0.96). Symptom duration >10 days was associated with acute sinusitis
with an LR+ of 1.89 (1.06, 3.59). A history of facial pain (LR+ of 0.59; CI 0.39, 0.90 and LR− of 2.85; CI 1.27, 6.41) and
the finding of sinus percussion tenderness (LR+ of 0.22; CI 0.05, 0.90 and LR− of 1.88; CI 1.17, 3.03) were inversely associated
with sinusitis.
CONCLUSIONS: The oropharyngeal red streak may be an accurate physical sign for diagnosing acute sinusitis. This sign should be included
in future studies of clinical diagnostic criteria for acute sinusitis.
Key Words sinusitis - physical examination - signs - symptoms - sensitivity - specificity
None of the authors have any conflicts of interest to declare.
This study is the result of work supported with resources and the use of facilities at the VA San Diego Healthcare System.