[CT and MRI diagnosis of lesions in unilateral maxillary sinus].
OBJECTIVE
To study the CT and MRI findings of lesions in unilateral maxillary sinus, and to compare the effect of CT and MRI in the differential diagnosis of lesions in unilateral maxillary sinus.


METHODS
Retrospective analysis of CT and contract-enhanced MRI imaging data from 34 patients with lesions in unilateral maxillary sinus which were diagnosed by endoscopic sinus surgery and postoperative pathology. The CT and contract-enhanced MRI's value in the differential diagnosis in lesions in unilateral maxillary sinus was analysed.


RESULTS
All 34 patients had unilateral maxillary sinus lesions. On CT: soft tissue density shadow in the unilateral maxillary sinus was found in all 34 cases. Five cases showed spot high density with thickening bone in the maxillary sinus wall. Eleven cases showed expansion of the opening of maxillary sinuses. Two cases showed broken lateral wall of nasal cavity . One case showed soft tissue density shadow in the maxillary sinus with curve edge with high density shadow which had a tooth shadow in it. Other 14 cases showed only soft density shadow in the maxillary sinuses. On MRI: all 34 cases revealed lower signals on T1WI compared to gray matter. Little loss signal were found in the inner of the maxillary sinus fungal balls on T1WI. Enhanced MR imaging showed no enhanced in nasal sinusitis, sinus cysts and polyp of posterior naris. In homogenous enhancing and "the cerebral convolution sign" were found in the hemorrhagic and necrotic nasal polyp, the nasal inverted papilloma and the malignant tumor cases. Higher signals were seen in the nasal sinusitis, fungal balls and the polyp of posterior naris cases on T2WI. In homogenous signal with different levels were found in the hemorrhagic and necrotic nasal polyp, the nasal inverted papilloma and the malignant tumor cases on T2WI.


CONCLUSIONS
CT and MRI examination are important in the diagnosis of the unilateral maxillary sinus lesions. Both CT and MRI had more differential diagnostic value in the unilateral maxillary sinus lesions than only CT used.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Key Laboratory of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Ministry of Education (Capital Medical University) , Beijing 100730, China.
Yi
Y
Dong
Email: entzhou@263.net.
Bing
B
Zhou
Cheng-shuo
CS
Wang
Qian
Q
Huang
Shun-jiu
SJ
Cui
Yun-chuan
YC
Li
Xin-yan
XY
Wang
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008443:Maxillary Sinus; D008875:Middle Aged; D010254:Paranasal Sinus Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D055815:Young Adult