Revisiting the interpretation of positive sinus CT findings: a radiological and symptom-based review.

OBJECTIVE

It is widely believed that a high percentage of normal, healthy patients without sinusitis symptoms have abnormal findings on sinus CT. Experiences of the authors of this study suggest otherwise.

STUDY DESIGN

Cross-sectional survey.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Head/sinus CT scans of 50 consecutive patients from each of three study groups were reviewed. Group 1 consisted of patients without any sinus symptoms. Group 2 consisted of patients with acute headache symptoms. Group 3 consisted of patients with complaints consistent with chronic sinusitis. CT scans were evaluated with the Lund-Mackay scoring system.

RESULTS

In the asymptomatic patient group (group 1), six (3%) patients had positive sinus CT scan findings, compared with 11 (5.5%) in the acutely symptomatic group (group 2), and 32 (64%) in the chronically symptomatic group (group 3). In the chronically symptomatic group (group 3), 64 percent of patients were allergic compared with 18% of the acute headache group (group 2) and 8 percent of the asymptomatic patient group (group 1).

CONCLUSION

Results of this study suggest that symptomatic sinus patients are much more likely to have positive sinus CT scan findings than asymptomatic patients. Conversely, normal healthy patients should not be expected to have abnormal sinus CT scans.