Incidental magnetic resonance image sinus abnormalities in asymptomatic Australian children

Plain X-rays, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans performed for non-ENT reasons often reveal incidental sinus mucosal changes. These changes need to be correlated clinically before diagnosing rhinosinusitis. This study examined the prevalence of such changes in MRI sc...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of laryngology and otology 2003-12, Vol.117 (12), p.969-972
Main Authors: Lim, Wye-Keat, Ram, Bhaskar, Fasulakis, Stephen, Kane, Kevin J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
(RF) Otorhinolaryngology
Adolescent
Asymptomatic
Australia - epidemiology
Biological and medical sciences
Child
Female
Humans
Incidence
Incidental Findings
Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects)
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Maxillary Sinus - pathology
Medical imaging
Medical sciences
Otolaryngology
Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology. Orbit
Paranasal Sinuses
Paranasal Sinuses - pathology
Patients
Prevalence
Prospective Studies
Radiodiagnosis. Nmr imagery. Nmr spectrometry
Retrospective Studies
Sinuses
Sinusitis - diagnosis
Sinusitis - epidemiology
Sphenoid Sinus - pathology
Tomography
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
X-rays
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Description
Summary:Plain X-rays, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans performed for non-ENT reasons often reveal incidental sinus mucosal changes. These changes need to be correlated clinically before diagnosing rhinosinusitis. This study examined the prevalence of such changes in MRI scans in children up to age 16. Scans were scored using an adapted Lund-Mackay classification and were positive when one or more sinuses showed abnormalities. Randomly selected scans in the retrospective arm revealed a prevalence of 20 of 62 (32 3 per cent). In the prospective arm 45 of 60 children were defined as truly asymptomatic, of which 14 scans (31 per cent) were positive. Other studies in adults and children using CT and MRI report a prevalence range of roughly 30 to 45 per cent. This variability may be attributed to differences of study design, definitions of population age, definitions of asymptomatic and definition of abnormal sinus. Other plausible factors to explain regional differences are climate and frequency of upper respiratory tract infections.
ISSN:0022-2151
1748-5460
DOI:10.1258/002221503322683858