Plain X-ray and coronal CT in diagnosis of sinusitis

Coronal computed tomographic (CT) scanning of the head can image the condition of the paranasal sinuses accurately. The aim of this study is to evaluate conventional sinus X-rays as a screening test in the diagnosis of sinusitis. Conventional sinus X-rays and coronal CT scanning were performed simultaneously in 106 patients in whom sinusitis was diagnosed clinically. After comparing conventional sinus X-rays with coronal CT scanning, the authors calculated the sensitivity and specificity of the diagnosis of sinusitis by conventional sinus X-rays. They found conventional sinus X-rays to be very useful in evaluating maxillary sinusitis, but it was slightly difficult to evaluate accurately the condition of the ethmoid, frontal and sphenoid sinuses. Therefore, in only 13 patients (12.3%) pansinusitis was diagnosed by conventional sinus X-rays, while in 36 patients (34.1%) pansinusitis was diagnosed by coronal CT scanning. (author)