The Allergist Episode 55 – Can Sinusitis be Solved? The View from the ENT Clinic

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“People know that asthma sucks. They don’t know that sinus disease sucks. It really impacts people’s quality of life. It impacts their function. It needs to be taken very seriously.”

–  Dr. Andrew Thamboo

Chronic sinusitis doesn’t just clog the nose—it can drag down quality of life, complicate asthma, and leave patients caught between specialists. Dr. Andrew Thamboo, rhinologist at St. Paul’s Sinus Centre and clinical associate professor at UBC, shares insights on identifying, managing, and treating this stubborn condition. A leader in chronic sinus disease research, he explains how understanding inflammation and choosing the right investigations and therapies can make a real difference for patients who feel like nothing works.

In this episode:

  • How to distinguish chronic rhinosinusitis from acute sinusitis, and why type 2 inflammation matters
  • The role of CT scans in diagnosis and when to order one before referral
  • What nasal endoscopy patterns reveal about atopy and when allergy testing changes the treatment plan
  • Why saline irrigations combined with topical steroids remain the baseline therapy, and why oral corticosteroids are falling out of favour
  • When medical management has gone far enough and surgery becomes the next step
  • The evolving place of biologics, cost considerations, and how biosimilars could shift the future of care
  • Why managing sinus disease seriously improves both airway and overall health

Sinus disease may suck, but as Dr. Thamboo explains, understanding inflammation, anatomy, and timing can make all the difference for patients and physicians alike.

Posted on November 11, 2025.