Paranasal sinuses in health and disease

Abstract

The CT scan is the modality of choice for evaluation of paranasal sinuses due to its ability to optimally display bone, soft tissue, and air. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has the edge over CT with regard to tissue characterization. There are a number of variations in nasal anatomy, including middle turbinate, nasal septum, ostiomeatal complex, and uncinate process variations. There are five major patterns of inflammatory sinonasal disease: the infundibular, ostiomeatal unit, spheno-ethmoid recess, sinonasal polyposis, and sporadic unclassified patterns. The most commonly encountered complication of acute sinusitis is orbital extension. Many forms of disease affect the paranasal sinuses. © 2009 Springer Berlin Heidelberg.