A MEDLINE literature search was performed for the years 1980 to 1996 using the following search strategy: sinus or sinuses AND endoscopic or endoscopy AND turbinate or turbinates. This search yielded 55 references, from which appropriate articles were chosen. The citations from each chosen article were also examined for appropriate references. Since the American Journal of Rhinology was not listed by MEDLINE at the time of the search, the index issues for each volume of the journal were reviewed manually for pertinent articles. The issues surrounding the efficacyofpartialresectionoftheMThave generatedsignificantdiscussioninthe literature. However, with the exception of the work of Wigand in Germany, most of the references prior to 1989 are concerned with partial MT resection foreither“middle turbinate headache”ornasalobstruction,andnot asatechnicalissueinFESS.Since1989, several articles have dealt specifically with the issues of both FESS and partialMTresection,andeithermaxillary antrostomypatency, synechia formation,orotherpertinentoutcomes.Ten pertinentreferenceswereidentifiedand form the basis of this report. PRO