Comparison of CT and MRI features in sinusitis.

OBJECTIVE

To correlate the features of inflammatory changes in the paranasal sinuses on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with computed tomography (CT).

METHODS AND PATIENTS

One hundred and fourteen patients with histologically proven nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) were staged with both CT and MRI. All CT and MRI images of patients with mucosal thickening but no tumour involvement of the sinuses were retrospectively analysed.

RESULTS

There were inflammatory changes in 36 maxillary, 21 sphenoid and 16 ethmoid sinuses. These changes include mucosal thickening, retention cysts, retained secretions, inspissated secretions and dystrophic calcification. MRI is superior to CT in separating thickened mucosa, retained secretions and retentions cysts.

CONCLUSION

It is important to appreciate CT changes of sinusitis and the corresponding spectrum of MRI features.