Assessment of the accuracy of paranasal sinuses limited CT scans in the diagnosis of sinusitis

ABSTRACT

CT scan of paranasal sinuses [PNS] has replaced the standard plain radiography in patients suspected of sinusitis. Since the standard CT scan [SCT] of PNS has high patient x-ray absorption dose, limited CT scan [LCT] of PNS is performed. The purpose of this study is to assess the diagnostic accuracy rate of PNS LCT in cases suspected of sinusitis. This cross-sectional study was performed on 120 patients with paranasal sinuses SCT requested by clinicians to diagnose sinusitis. After interpretation of paranasal sinuses SCT, limited slices consisting of 5 noncontiguous slices of 5 mm thickness in both axial and coronal plains were selected to be interpreted by another radiologist. In this study paranasal sinuses LCT had a sensitivity of 95%, specificity of 92%, positive predictive value [PPV] of 96% and negative predictive value [NPV] of 90%. The limited CT scan in diagnosis of sinusitis has acceptable sensitivity and specificity which indicates a suitable diagnostic value