I recently visited an ENT after repeated bouts of sinusitis.
He sent me for a CAT scan, which came back with opacity in the
right sphenoid.  We discussed options, and he prescribed Biaxin
plus Flonase plus a decongestant, which worked -- a subsequent
CAT scan showed no opacity, though I still had a slight sensation
of fullness in the right cheek.

We discussed a surgical option if the antibiotics didn't
work, and he described a procedure of inserting a long,
semi-rigid metal probe into the sinus to enlarge the ostium,
rather like an apple-corer.  He mentioned that, with the
sphenoid, there was some risk of this damaging the optic
nerve or the brain (so I'm glad the antibiotic worked).

My question is, was the procedure he described standard
state-of-the-art FESS, or are there more sophisticated and
lower-risk surgical options available these days?

Thanks,

John Jones