Revisiting the interpretation of positive sinus CT findings: a radiological and symptom-based review.
OBJECTIVE
It is widely believed that a high percentage of normal, healthy patients without sinusitis symptoms have abnormal findings on sinus CT. Experiences of the authors of this study suggest otherwise.


METHODS
Cross-sectional survey.


METHODS
Head/sinus CT scans of 50 consecutive patients from each of three study groups were reviewed. Group 1 consisted of patients without any sinus symptoms. Group 2 consisted of patients with acute headache symptoms. Group 3 consisted of patients with complaints consistent with chronic sinusitis. CT scans were evaluated with the Lund-Mackay scoring system.


RESULTS
In the asymptomatic patient group (group 1), six (3%) patients had positive sinus CT scan findings, compared with 11 (5.5%) in the acutely symptomatic group (group 2), and 32 (64%) in the chronically symptomatic group (group 3). In the chronically symptomatic group (group 3), 64 percent of patients were allergic compared with 18% of the acute headache group (group 2) and 8 percent of the asymptomatic patient group (group 1).


CONCLUSIONS
Results of this study suggest that symptomatic sinus patients are much more likely to have positive sinus CT scan findings than asymptomatic patients. Conversely, normal healthy patients should not be expected to have abnormal sinus CT scans.
Wittkopf
Maria L
ML
Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232-8605, USA.
Beddow
Peter A
PA
Russell
Paul T
PT
Duncavage
James A
JA
Becker
Samuel S
SS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010256:Paranasal Sinuses / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed