Bashir Ahmed, Amer Sabih Hydri, Shahid Farooq.
Role of Plain Radiology in Chronic Maxillary Sinusitis.
Pak J Otolaryngol Jan ;19(1):8-11.

OBJECTIVE. To determine the specificity and specificality ofX-rays paranasal sinuses (water`s view) in patients of chronic maxillary sinusitis. DESIGN: A prospective, comparative study between radiological findings and lavage of the maxillary sinuses. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY ENT department Combined Military Hospital Quetta over a period of 6 months. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 110 patients with suspected chronic maxillary sinusitis were selected for the study from general population; mostly defence personnel and few civilians reporting to ENT department of Combined Military Hospital Quetta, which is the only tertiary referral Military Hospital in Baluchistan. Provisional diagnosis of maxillary sinusitis was made on history and clinical examination. X-ray paranasal sinuses (water`s view) was carried out in all cases. Radiological findings were classified as clear, mucosal thickening, opaque or fluid level. Antral lavage was also carried out in all cases and fluid return was classified as clear, mucoid or mucopurulent. RESULTS: X-ray PNS (water`s view) had a sensitivity of 77% and specificity of 37% in chronic maxillary sinusitis when compared with the findings of lavage of the maxillary sinuses. CONCLUSION. Despite the fact that affluent countries have adopted CT scan as the diagnostic tool of choice in diagnosing sinusitis`, it is fair to conclude that plain X-rays remain the preferential investigation in diagnosing chronic maxillary sinusitis in third world countries like ours.

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