Shaelene Ashby

Characterization of facial pain associated with chronic rhinosinusitis using validated pain evaluation instruments.

Prior investigations into facial pain associated with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) have yielded important results, but have yet to use pain‐specific outcome measures. This study seeks to characterize facial pain associated with CRS using validated pain‐specific instruments.

Dyad of pain and depression in chronic rhinosinusitis.

Pain and depression often coexist as comorbidities in patients with chronic disease and exert a major impact on quality of life (QOL). Little is known about the relationship between pain and depression in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Our objective was to investigate this relationship and to analyze the effect of pain and depression on QOL in CRS.

The pain–depression dyad and the association with sleep dysfunction in chronic rhinosinusitis

Depression, pain, and sleep disturbance is a symptom cluster often found in patients with chronic illness, exerting a large impact on quality of life (QOL). A wealth of literature exists demonstrating a significant association between depression, pain, and sleep dysfunction in other chronic diseases. This relationship has not been described in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS).

Psychosocial Distress in Patients with Thyroid Cancer

Objective The purpose of this study is to evaluate levels of psychosocial distress in thyroid cancer patients. An analysis of factors contributing to levels of distress is included. Study Design Individual retrospective cohort study. Setting Head and neck cancer clinic at the Huntsman Cancer Institute. Subjects and Methods A total of 118 newly diagnosed thyroid cancer patients were included in the study. Univariate and multivariate analyses evaluated levels of and factors contributing to distress. Results Almost half (43.3%) of patients had significant distress. Those with self-reported psychiatric history, use of antidepressant medication, and history of radiation treatment had higher levels of distress. On multivariate analysis, patient endorsement of emotional issues predicted a higher distress level. Conclusions Thyroid cancer patients have high distress levels. Identification of thyroid cancer patients with high distress levels is important to offer additional support during cancer therapy.

Cognitive dysfunction associated with pain and quality of life in chronic rhinosinusitis

Cognitive dysfunction and its relationship to both pain and disease‐specific quality of life (QOL) in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) have not been investigated previously. We sought to analyze the correlations of pain and disease‐specific QOL with cognitive function in CRS.

Nasal obstruction has a limited impact on sleep quality and quality of life in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis.

Nasal obstruction is a cardinal symptom in diagnosing chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), and decreased sleep quality (SQ) and quality of life (QOL) are commonly reported in CRS. It is, however, unclear what role nasal obstruction severity plays in this decreased SQ and QOL. Using validated instruments, we evaluated the relationship between nasal obstruction severity, SQ, and QOL.

Lack of correlation between patient reported location and severity of facial pain and radiographic burden of disease in chronic rhinosinusitis.

Facial pain is a cardinal symptom of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) with significant impacts on patient treatment selection, quality of life, and outcomes. The association between facial pain and CRS disease severity has not been systematically evaluated with validated, facial pain–specific questionnaires. Our objective was to measure pain location, severity, and interference in patients with CRS, and correlate these to the location and severity of radiographic evidence of disease.

The price of pain in chronic rhinosinusitis: Pain in CRS

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is associated with productivity losses exceeding US

International Frontal Sinus Anatomy Classification and anatomic predictors of low-lying anterior ethmoidal arteries.

13 billion annually. Although pain is well known to significantly affect patient productivity in other diseases, its economic impact on CRS‐related lost productivity has not been examined. The objective of this study was to determine whether CRS‐related facial pain correlates with lost productivity in patients with CRS.

Single-Blinded Prospective Implementation of a Preoperative Imaging Checklist for Endoscopic Sinus Surgery

Background The International Frontal Sinus Anatomy Classification (IFAC) was introduced to more accurately characterize ethmoid and frontal sinus pneumatization patterns. The prevalence of IFAC cells and their anatomic associations have not been described. Objective The goal was to examine the prevalence of IFAC cells and determine radiologic features associated with a low-lying anterior ethmoidal artery (LAEA). Methods Imaging of adult patients who underwent computed tomographies from January 2015 to March 2016 were retrospectively reviewed by using the IFAC classification. We also measured the distance from the skull base to the anterior ethmoidal artery (AEA), the height of the lateral lamella of the cribriform plate, and anterior-posterior diameter from the anterior wall of the frontal sinus to the skull base (APF). Patients with a history of sinus surgery, trauma, malignancy, or congenital anomaly were excluded. Statistical analysis was performed by using Pearson correlation coefficients and χ2 tests. Results A total of 95 patients met the inclusion criteria. There was a significant association between supraorbital ethmoid cells and an LAEA (p < 0.001), with a significant effect size (ϕ = 0.276, p = 0.007). An inverse relationship was observed between Keros type I classification I and an LAEA (p < 0.001), with a significant effect size (ϕ = -0.414, p = 0.000). Significant associations were found between the AEA distance from the skull base and the cribriform lateral lamella height (R = 0.576, p < 0.001). In addition, there was a significant association between the AEA distance from the skull base and the APF (R = 0.497, p < 0.001). Conclusion The presence of a supraorbital ethmoid cell and a wide APF were associated with an LAEA. There was a significant relationship between Keros type I classification and the AEA adjacent to the skull base. Delineation of these anatomic relationships may be helpful during endoscopic sinus surgery to avoid complications.