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MRI of the paranasal sinuses: incidental abnormalities and their relationship to symptoms

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

Lynn D. Cooke  and
Donald M. Hadley
Lynn D. Cooke*
Affiliation:
Glasgow
Donald M. Hadley
Affiliation:
Glasgow
*
Mrs Lynn Cooke, F.R.C.S.. Department of Otolaryngology, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Glasgow G4 0SF.
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Abstract

Magnetic resonance imaging is able to demonstrate a wide range of sinus abnormalities. Incidental findings in patients referred for neuroradiology because of suspected intracranial pathology are surprisingly common and were present in 37.5 per cent of 483 images examined. The maxillary and ethmoid sinuses were most commonly affected with 27 and 26 per cent of images abnormal whereas the frontal and sphenoid sinuses were less commonly affected with 5 per cent of each abnormal. If minor changes were excluded then 17 per cent of patients had either fluid, a polyp or marked mucosal thickening in at least one sinus. Nasal symptoms, other than the presence of a cold, showed no statistically significant relationship to abnormal findings. Many people with inflammatory changes in their sinuses demonstrated on MRI do not have symptoms classically attributed to sinusitis.

Keywords

Radiography (magnetic resonance)Paranasal sinuses

Information

Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 105 , Issue 4 , April 1991 , pp. 278 - 281
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1991

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Footnotes

Based on a paper presented to the Otolaryngology Research Society at the Institute of Child Health, London, 5 October 1990.

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