RHISI

RHISI is the acronym for "Rhinophyma Severity Index". The score is a clinical evaluation system for quantitatively classifying the severity of rhinophyma. It was developed by Wetzig et al.

The preoperative RHISI score correlates with the postoperative outcome: a high RHISI before surgery is considered a risk factor for recurrence (recurrence of rhinophyma). In the study by Wetzig et al. the effectiveness of a treatment (e.g. Shave excision) was evaluated using the RHISI: the average score decreased significantly from 3.3 ± 1.1 before treatment to 1.7 ± 0.9 in the mean follow-up (approximately 37 months after therapy) - p < 0.0001 .

Competing indices are the El-Azhary classification (3 stages: mild, moderate, severe), the Clark classification (4 types, which is mainly used for histological differentiation), the Olsen&Zimmermann classification (analogous to the Clark classification) and the Grubisch classification (plastic-surgical).

1. el-Azhary RA et al. (1991) Spectrum of results after treatment of rhinophyma with the carbon dioxide laser. Mayo Clin Proc 66:899-905
2. Wetzig T et al. (2013) New rhinophyma severity index and mid-term results following shave excision of rhinophyma. Dermatology 227:31-36.
3. Jansen T et al. (1998) Clinical and histological variants of rhinophyma, including nonsurgical treatment modalities. Facial Plast Surg 14:241-253.