Sinus CT shows all the paranasal sinuses slice by slice, from the maxillary and frontal sinuses to the deep sphenoid and ethmoid sinuses. The result often guides treatment, including whether surgery is needed.
- Duration5 min; with contrast 20–30 min
- Contrastif prescribed by the doctor
- Preparationnone (fasting if contrast is used)
- Report30 min – 1 hour
What it shows
- Acute and chronic sinusitis, including fungal sinusitis
- Mucosal thickening, pus collections, polyps
- Sinus cysts
- Benign and malignant tumours, tumour spread from neighbouring areas
- Fractures and cracks of the sinus walls
- Foreign bodies
- Narrowing of the nasolacrimal duct, dacryocystitis
- Individual anatomy of the sinuses
When it is recommended
- Blocked nose, headache or unusual nasal discharge with normal or inconclusive results of other tests
- Inconclusive X-ray findings
- Frequent flare-ups of chronic sinusitis or poor response to treatment
- Facial or head injury with a suspected fracture
- Dacryocystitis, blocked tear ducts
- Suspected sinus tumour or cyst
- Suspected foreign body
Preparation
- If contrast is planned, come on an empty stomach, or, for an afternoon appointment, 5–6 hours after your last meal.
Good to know
- Contrast is given only if the doctor prescribes it; most sinus scans are done without it.
- For the sinuses and their bony walls, CT is usually more informative than X-ray or MRI.
General information about CT — safety, contraindications, contrast and what to expect — is on the CT page.