What can a CT scan of sinuses tell you

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iJah - 30 Jan 2004 20:34 GMT

I've exhausted all the usual avenues of treatment for a 'sinus
infection'. Thinking maybe i don't have a sinus infection at all - no
stuffyness, mucus, nasal discharge - 'sinuses' are OK - problem is all
in the nose/turbinates - extreme inflammation/swelling of the
turbinates - very dry conditions inside the nose.

anyway, i insisted my ENT order a CT scan for me, thinking that would
give more clues than just having him look around with an endoscope.

they took the scan a couple days ago, his receptionist called me and
left a brief/terse message that said - your CT scan came back 'clean'.

Duh, OK - what exactly does THAT mean and where do I go from here?

What can a CT scan tell you? What do they look for with a CT scan -
what does a 'clean scan' rule out?

Big thanks for any help sorting this issue out.

iJah

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Don Brady - 30 Jan 2004 21:51 GMT

>I've exhausted all the usual avenues of treatment for a 'sinus
>infection'. Thinking maybe i don't have a sinus infection at all - no
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>they took the scan a couple days ago, his receptionist called me and
>left a brief/terse message that said - your CT scan came back 'clean'.

>Duh, OK - what exactly does THAT mean and where do I go from here?
>
>What can a CT scan tell you? What do they look for with a CT scan -
>what does a 'clean scan' rule out?

Well it will show major abnormalities of the sinuses and nose very nicely.
But I would get your ENT or another one to go over the actual CT (not just the
radiologist report). with you . There are subtleties of interpretation.

It also shows your turbinates and any abnormalities in them (concha bulosa
etc.) and the septum etc. - so really it should be invaluable in the right
hands in diagnosing your condition.

You may need a second opinion .....

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iJah - 31 Jan 2004 05:14 GMT

On Fri, 30 Jan 2004 20:34:41 GMT, iJah <ijahSpamSucks@mindspring.com>
wrote:

>>I've exhausted all the usual avenues of treatment for a 'sinus
>>infection'. Thinking maybe i don't have a sinus infection at all - no
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
>>What can a CT scan tell you? What do they look for with a CT scan -
>>what does a 'clean scan' rule out?

>Well it will show major abnormalities of the sinuses and nose very nicely.
>But I would get your ENT or another one to go over the actual CT (not just the
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
>You may need a second opinion .....

Thanks A LOT Don. This is exactly the kind of information I was hoping
to. Now I'm fully armed with a CLUE and ready to approach my ENT.

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Steven Litvintchouk - 31 Jan 2004 15:43 GMT

> On Fri, 30 Jan 2004 20:34:41 GMT, iJah <ijahSpamSucks@mindspring.com>
> wrote:
[quoted text clipped - 28 lines]
> Thanks A LOT Don. This is exactly the kind of information I was hoping
> to. Now I'm fully armed with a CLUE and ready to approach my ENT.

One more point.
Remind your ENT that even CT scans have a 5-10% rate of false negatives.

The ENT that did surgery on me, said that he had found sinus problems
that neither he nor the radiologist had seen on the CT scan.

-- Steven L.

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Flash - 30 Jan 2004 22:57 GMT

> I've exhausted all the usual avenues of treatment for a 'sinus
> infection'. Thinking maybe i don't have a sinus infection at all - no
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
>
> iJah

I use to get chronic sinus infections, and suffered from continual
pain and pressure and headaches near/above my right eyebrow. I had
a CT scan done ( to cut to the chase ) and was also told that there
was no problem! Anyway, I've sense been following Dr. Ivker's book,
Sinus Survival, and using the Grossan Irrigator -- which has brought me
a long way to being pain free ...

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