Prospective study to compare clinical, X-ray and computed tomography findings in various paranasal sinus pathologies

Background: Paranasal sinuses (PNS) diseases are very common and comprises wide spectrum ranging from inflammation to neoplasm. Objectives: Objectives of the study were to study and compare clinical, X-ray and computed tomography (CT) findings in various PNS pathologies. Materials and Methods: A total of 50 patients presented for PNS were studied in the Department of Radiodiagnosis, Gajra Raja Medical College, from May 2015 to September 2016 using CT and X-ray imaging techniques. Detailed history and clinical examination were also done for each patient. Results: Male preponderance was noted with mean age of 36.93±18.45 years. The most common clinical presentation was headache (52%) followed by nasal obstruction (40%). Clinical findings revealed that bacterial sinusitis, fungal sinusitis, polyp, polyps with sinusitis, mucous retention cyst (MRC), MRC with sinusitis, benign lesions, benign lesion with sinusitis, malignant lesions, encephaloceles, and dyke-davidoff-masson syndrome was observed in 66%, 8%, 2%, 8%, 2%, 2%, 12%, 10%, 8%, 2%, and 2% patients, respectively. A total of 45 specific diagnoses could be made in X-ray which is in contrast to CT where a total of 56 diagnoses were made compared to clinical findings. Conclusion: CT should be the preferred modality of all imaging studies available because of its ease, availability, accuracy and precision in diagnosis of PNS pathologies.