RESUMO
CT scan is the standard method for purposes of diagnosis, disease monitoring, and surgical planning of paranasal sinuses. Yet there are varying reports of both positive and negative correlation between sino - nasal symptoms and CT evidence of sinusitis. We designed a study for survey of relative frequency of signs and symptoms of chronic sinusitis that correlate in clinical diagnosis with computed tomography scan results. Signs and symptoms of 200 patients with clinical diagnosis of chronic sinusitis after coronal CT scan results were evaluated and analyzed for sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative values. 111 patients [55.5%] had chronic sinusitis with respect to CT scan findings, but 89 patients [44.5%] didn't have any evidence of chronic sinusitis on CT scan. Age, sex and duration of disease didn't have significant statistical difference between these groups. The most sensitive symptoms were nasal stuffiness and facial or forehead pain and least sensitive but most specific was facial pressure. Least specificity was related to facial or forehead pain. The greatest positive predictive value was facial pressure and the least, was facial or forehead pain. The most valuable predictor symptom in diagnosis of chronic sinusitis is facial pressure, and least reliable of them is facial or forehead pain. Generally clinical symptoms have a little value in diagnosis of chronic sinusitis and must be checked with CT scan findings