Introduction: There is increasing interest in the underlying bone of the paranasal sinuses as an important player in recalcitrant Chronic Rhinosinusitis. Close inspection of CT scans often reveals areas of increased bone density and irregular thickening of the sinus walls. This osteitic bone could at least partly explain, why inflammation of the mucosa persists.
Methods: We searched PubMed for all relevant studies, using the following text words: chronic rhinosinusitis, sinusitis, bone, osteitis, osteomyelitis, histology, and treatment. Cited references of retrieved articles were also examined.
Results: Background, available data, potential diagnostic options, treatment implications, and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Conclusion: Osteitis is associated with CRS, however its role in the pathogenic process is not well defined. More research is needed.