Flat panel cone beam computed tomography of the sinuses.
OBJECTIVE
This study aims to compare the image quality and potential diagnostic accuracy of paranasal sinus CT scans generated by flat panel cone beam CT at three specific data acquisition times.


METHODS
Prospective, single blinded analysis.


METHODS
Eleven patients without previous radiologic evaluation were selected based on history and findings suspicious for chronic sinusitis. Each patient was scanned at three different acquisition times: 10, 20, and 40 seconds. A panel of neuroradiologists and otolaryngologists, blinded to the scan acquisition time, individually reviewed images and rated overall image quality and visualization of specific anatomic sites. Image noise values were also calculated. Techniques were compared with a Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed ranks test.


RESULTS
Compared to the 10-second acquisition time, the 40- and 20-second acquisition time techniques had significantly better image quality (P < 0.05) and image noise (P < 0.05). No difference in image quality and image noise existed between the 20- and 40-second techniques. No difference in visualization of specific anatomic structures existed between any of the time techniques.


CONCLUSIONS
The quality of flat panel CT imaging of the sinuses directly relates to scan time and thus radiation dose.
Zoumalan
Richard A
RA
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA. Richard.Zoumalan@nyumc.org
Lebowitz
Richard A
RA
Wang
Edwin
E
Yung
Kathryn
K
Babb
James S
JS
Jacobs
Joseph B
JB
D002908:Chronic Disease; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; D006801:Humans; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric