Review: specific signs and symptoms can help practitioners to diagnose acute purulent sinusitis in general practice
QUESTION: What is the accuracy of clinical assessment and close examination of patients in diagnosing purulent sinusitis in general practice?
Data sources
Studies were identified by searching Medline from 1966 to May 2001 using the keywords sinusitis acute, sinus infection, diagnosis, primary care, and general/family practice; and by a manual search of the literature using previous knowledge in the field.
Study selection
Studies were selected if clinical symptoms, signs, and blood tests were compared with an objective diagnostic standard (sinus puncture, computed tomography [CT], x ray, or ultrasonography) for diagnosing adults with suspected acute sinusitis in primary care.
Data extraction
Data were extracted on study quality (using criteria from the Cochrane Collaboration Methods Working Group on Diagnosis and Screening), clinical setting, patient characteristics, …
