This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Aaløkken, T. Articles by Kolbenstvedt, A Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Aaløkken, T. Articles by Kolbenstvedt, A

Conventional sinus radiography compared with CT in the diagnosis of acute sinusitis

¹ Department of Radiology, Rikshospitalet, University of Oslo, N-0027 Oslo, Norway; ² Department of Biostatistics, Rikshospitalet, University of Oslo, N-0027 Oslo, Norway

*Correspondence to: TM Aaløkken, Department of Radiology, Rikshospitalet, N-0027 Oslo, Norway; Email: trond.mogens.aalokken{at}rikshospitalet.no

Received 11 March 2002; revised 30 August 2002; accepted 9 September 2002

Objectives: To evaluate the value of plain film radiography in a prospective investigation of patients with clinical suspicion of acute sinusitis, using standard CT as a gold standard.

Methods: 47 consecutive patients were examined. Each patient underwent conventional X-ray and standard dose CT examinations on the same day. The sensitivity and specificity of the plain film examination were calculated.

Results: The specificity of the plain film examination was high, but the sensitivity was low except for the maxillary sinus (sensitivity 80%). Thus, for maxillary sinusitis, plain film examination was reasonably accurate. A negative finding in the other sinuses could not be relied upon.

Conclusions: The sensitivity of plain film radiography for detecting sinus opacifications was unacceptably low for the ethmoid, frontal and sphenoid sinuses. The specificity was high.

Keywords: paranasal sinus diseases; sinusitis; tomography, X-ray computed; radiography

This article has been cited by other articles:

				T. H. Mulkens, C. Broers, S. Fieuws, J.-L. Termote, and P. Bellnick Comparison of Effective Doses for Low-Dose MDCT and Radiographic Examination of Sinuses in Children Am. J. Roentgenol., May 1, 2005; 184(5): 1611 - 1618. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]