CT scanning in chronic rhinosinusitis. Indications, technique and merits

ABSTRACT

One hundred patients diagnosed to have chronic rhinosinusitis on clinical and endoscopic basis were examined radiologically by CT scanning of their paranasal sinuses prior to endoscopic sinus surgery. They patients included 51 males and 49 females, their ages ranged between 19 and 66 years. The anterior ethmoidal sinuses including the ethmoidal infundibulum and the ostiomeatal complex were involved in all cases. These findings supported the concept that the anterior ethmoids are the key area in the genesis, persistence and recurrence of disease in the other group of sinuses. CT revealed mucosal changes deep in the ostiomeatal complex that are not visible endoscopically, besides the extent and nature of pathology and the effects of previous sinus surgery can be properly assessed. The merits of CT scanning over other radiological modalities in chronic rhinosinusitis were discussed as well as the proper selection of patients and the modifications in scanning techniques aiming to reduce the cost effectiveness of the examination