[Usefulness of simple paranasal sinus radiographs and axial computed tomography in the diagnosis of chronic sinusitis].

AIMS

A prospective, observational clinical trial is presented with the object of determining the frequency with which CT scans of the paranasal sinuses establish the diagnosis of chronic sinusitis in patients with symptoms of sinusitis but without alterations in the plain films of the paranasal sinuses.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study included 113 patients, 64 females and 49 males, with the clinical diagnosis of chronic sinusitis. All had plain films of the paranasal sinuses. CT scans of the paranasal sinuses were performed on all patients with negative findings on plane films.

RESULTS

Of the 113 patients, 68 (60%) presented positive radiographic findings of chronic sinusitis on plain films. In the 45 remaining patients (39%) in which plain films were negative, CT scans of the paranasal sinuses were performed and demonstrated ethmoid sinusitis in all of them (100%).

CONCLUSION

That CT scan is more sensitive in the diagnosis of ethmoid sinusitis as compared to plain films of the paranasal sinuses, due to the fact that ethmoid anatomy is better delineated by this method. Plain films of the paranasal sinuses are of lesser use in determining ethmoid anatomy due to the superposition of images that occurs in this technique.