title: Unilateral opacification of paranasal sinus CT scans.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of study was to describe the histopathology in patients with unilateral sinus opacification and to identify variables that may predict neoplastic pathology.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review of paranasal sinus CT scans performed between 2000 and 2003 was conducted to identify patients with unilateral sinus opacification.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-eight of 1118 CT scans showed unilateral sinus opacification. Twelve patients had neoplastic disease, 13 had inflammatory disease. Nasal discharge was more common in inflammatory than neoplastic disease (P = 0.009). A polyp or mass lesion was more common on nasendoscopy in neoplastic than inflammatory disease (P = 0.01). Bony erosion was only identified in malignant disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A wide variety of pathologies present with unilateral sinus opacification on CT scanning. In our series, neoplastic disease was more associated with a visible polyp or mass lesion and less with nasal discharge. Bony erosion on CT scan was only seen in malignant disease. Histologic confirmation remains obligatory for diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Grampian University Hospitals NHS Trust, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Aberdeen, Scotland.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ahsan
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: El-Hakim
authors.forename: K W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Ah-See
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D009298:Nasal Polyps / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D010254:Paranasal Sinus Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D011336:Probability; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*