title: Radiologic reporting for paranasal sinus computed tomography: a multi-institutional review of content and consistency.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To optimize clinical care, radiologic reporting should consistently include clinically pertinent information. The purpose of this study was to: 1) determine the current satisfaction of otolaryngologists with paranasal sinus computed tomography (CT) radiologic reporting and 2) evaluate the comprehensiveness of paranasal sinus CT radiologic reporting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two parts: 1) A national survey of all practicing otolaryngologists in Canada and 2) a retrospective review of paranasal sinus CT scan radiologic reporting.
  
  
  METHODS
  A national survey of all Canadian otolaryngologists was conducted in September 2011. Questions were focused on eliciting the current satisfaction with sinus CT radiologic reporting. At two major centers (Alberta Health Services-Calgary Zone and the Ottawa Hospital), all sinus CT scans performed over a 2-year period were identified (9,739), and 100 from each center were randomly selected for analysis. The radiology reports were scrutinized to determine if seven critical and 11 noncritical items were mentioned.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Many (22%) otolaryngologists are dissatisfied with current sinus CT radiologic reporting, and the majority (67%) would like more clinically useful information. All predefined sinus CT items were inconsistently reported. Anterior ethmoid artery anatomy, ethmoid skull base integrity, and sphenoethmoidal cell were the most infrequently reported critical items.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study has demonstrated that important information is inconsistently reported for sinus CT, and most otolaryngologists would like to see more clinically relevant content in radiology reports. Optimizing the reporting of sinus CT scans will improve communication between the radiologist and other clinicians managing patients with sinonasal disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  2b.
authors.affiliation: Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta.
authors.forename: Michael W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Deutschmann
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yeung
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bosch
authors.forename: John T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Lysack
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kingstone
authors.forename: Shaun J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kilty
authors.forename: Luke R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Rudmik
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010254:Paranasal Sinus Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D010256:Paranasal Sinuses / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012042:Registries; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019291:Skull Base / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*