Comparison of a screening coronal CT versus a contiguous coronal CT for the evaluation of patients with presumptive sinusitis.

BACKGROUND

Computed tomography has greatly improved the accuracy of sinus imaging. While contiguous coronal computed tomography scanning of the sinuses provides detailed imaging as compared with plain sinus radiography, this modality is significantly more expensive and involves exposure of the patient to a higher dose of radiation. It has become increasingly common to obtain screening, or non-contiguous, CT scans of the sinuses when screening for the presence of sinusitis.

OBJECTIVE

To calculate the sensitivity and specificity of the screening coronal CT scan of the sinuses in screening for inflammatory disease using the contiguous coronal CT examination of the sinuses as the standard.

METHODS

From contiguous coronal computed tomograms of the paranasal sinuses, screening coronal computed tomographic examinations were created for 44 patients. Patients were being screened for the presence of sinusitis in the Comprehensive Sinus Clinic at St. Louis University. The two examinations were reviewed independently and in random order by two neuroradiologists. Using the original examinations as the standard, the sensitivity and specificity of the screening studies were calculated for various situations.

RESULTS

Overall, a sensitivity of 93.3% and a specificity of 89.3% for the detection of inflammatory disease of the sinuses by the screening examination was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

The screening coronal computed tomogram of the paranasal sinuses may be useful in the evaluation of the patient with possible sinusitis.