Nose: accessory sinuses of the nose. CT of the paranasal sinuses

Unfortunately, very often there are situations when people start infectious diseases, as a result of which the paranasal sinuses become inflamed, serious health problems arise, and a person is diagnosed as having a sinusitis. However, before the doctor decides on the conclusion, he sends the patient to a radiography or computer tomography to make sure of his suspicions. Today these methods of research will be discussed.

Nose: accessory sinuses of the nose and origin of sinusitis

Unfortunately, many people suffer from the consequences of an untreated rhinitis. A sinusitis is an inflammation of the paranasal sinuses of an acute or chronic nature that occurs after a previous flu or other infectious diseases. The disease can have both acute and chronic form. It is subdivided into such subgroups:

- a genyantritis;

- front;

- etmoiditis;

- sphenoiditis.

Depending on which specific inflammation is found in the patient, treatment of the paranasal sinuses is prescribed. But in order to make an accurate diagnosis, the doctor first directs the patient to certain studies. Often, a specialist appoints a radiography, but in some cases can give a direction for computed tomography. More details on these methods of examining the sinuses of the nose will be discussed below.

X-ray of the organ of smell and indications for its conduct

This method of research is widely used in otolaryngology and is performed on an outpatient basis. Radiography of the paranasal sinuses is prescribed in such situations:

1. With trauma to the olfactory organ.
2. To diagnose the mucosa.
3. When preparing for an operation.
4. If there are bleedings from the organ of smell of an incomprehensible nature.
5. If nasal breathing is impaired.
6. For the diagnosis of chronic sinusitis.
7. If there are headaches.

Preparing for an X-ray

To prepare for this study, nothing special to do is not necessary. The main thing - to remove jewelry, metal objects, elastic bands, hair clips. The laboratory assistant invites the patient to sit on a chair opposite the apparatus. The nose and chin should touch the metal plate. The specialist asks you not to move so that the quality of the image is good. The whole event takes no more than 3 minutes. Results are given only 5 minutes after the procedure. Any pathology seen in the picture, the expert describes in his conclusion, with which the patient goes to Laura. And the specialist then decides whether to further examine or prescribe a treatment.

X-rays of the paranasal sinuses can rarely be supplemented with CT in cases of doubtful symptom, which can not be studied in detail using the method described above.

Contraindications

X-rays can not be given to women waiting for a child. In other cases, including children, this method of diagnosis may be prescribed by the treating doctor.

In what situations is CT performed?

This study, in some cases, must be carried out in order to exclude the dangerous diseases of such an important organ as the nose. The accessory sinuses of the nose are checked by means of a tomograph in such situations:

1. If there are headaches of unknown origin.
2. If the bone structure of the paranasal depressions is damaged.
3. In the case of foreign bodies entering the sinuses.
4. With suspicions of hemorrhage.
5. To detect diseases of the paranasal sinuses.
6. After the traumas and injuries of the bone structures, eye orbits, face of the skull.
7. In inflammatory processes that are not amenable to therapy, for example, in the case of sinusitis.
8. With frequent nasal bleeding.
9. If there is a purulent inflammation of the lacrimal sac.

The advantages of computed tomography

This method is considered one of the most accurate when examining an organ such as the nose. The adnexal sinuses of the nose are checked thoroughly, which indicates a high quality and error-free analysis. This diagnostic method has the following advantages:

1. The quality of the images is high.
2. A small radiation load.
3. High scanning speed.
4. All the investigated formations are presented in detail in the photographs.
5. This method is safe for humans.
6. Availability of such a method of investigation.
7. The event is performed in a relatively short time (in contrast to MRI).
8. Painless procedure.

Execution of CT procedure

This method helps to investigate and recognize diseases that are associated with an organ such as the nose. The accessory sinuses of the nose are checked as follows:

1. Before starting the procedure, the specialist asks several questions to the patient (name, year of birth, state of health, tolerability of medicines, etc.).
2. Then the patient lays down on a special couch of a computer tomograph. The patient's position is on the back or face down, while the chin should be raised.
3. During the event, it is forbidden to twitch or move. In order that a person does not accidentally move from his original place, it can be fastened with straps and special cushions to help maintain the correct position. The fact is that involuntary movements lead to a deterioration in image quality.
4. When the patient is placed and all the necessary instructions are given out, the CT process begins directly. During the procedure, the table-couch, on which the patient is located, will slowly move into a special ring (another name - portal) of a computer tomograph. During such movement around the person X-ray tubes and electronic detectors will rotate.
5. At some point, the doctor may ask to hold his breath. In general, the procedure does not bring any discomfort.
6. The duration of CT is usually 10 minutes. After the end of the examination, the doctor asks you to wait for the results (within 40 minutes).

Contraindications

This method of analysis, like CT of the paranasal sinuses, can not be carried out by the following categories of persons:

• Pregnant women, because there is a possible appearance of malformations in the fetus.
• To small children. The study itself is safe, but for babies who can not lie and do not move throughout the procedure, this method is not recommended. And stillness is needed in any case to ensure good quality of the images.
• People who are allergic to iodine (if the tomography of the paranasal sinuses is done with contrast).
• Patients with renal insufficiency.

Sinusitis Therapy

Treatment of the paranasal sinuses should be done immediately after the patient has taken a radiograph or computed tomography, and the doctor will give him an accurate diagnosis. Therapy of sinusitis, both acute and chronic, is aimed at stopping the inflammatory process in the sinuses, purifying them of pus and mucus, eliminating edema. For this purpose, the patient is prescribed antimicrobials, which the doctor chooses depending on the type of pathogen, the age of the person and the degree of neglect. For the treatment of acute sinusitis drugs are prescribed for a period of about 3 weeks. And if the disease has passed into a chronic form, then for a period of 2 times greater. To reduce mucosal edema, the doctor prescribes vasoconstrictor.

When a person turned to the doctor late, and discharge from the nose has already turned from liquid to thick, with the smell of rot, then the specialist appoints a puncture. This is done in order to rinse the body of the olfactory organ, remove unnecessary harmful liquid and introduce medications.

Also, often in the treatment of sinusitis, doctors use a combined method: for 10 days, the patient is prescribed antibiotics. And then they make a puncture to remove pus and mucus.

Now you know that before diagnosing sinusitis or another disease of the paranasal sinuses, the doctor first sends the patient to the examination. The most common method of determining the ailment is radiography. But if after that the expert still doubts, then he appoints CT of the paranasal sinuses - an exact and correct method of investigation, which will show a clear picture of the disease.