Pietro Caruso MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Giulio Ferrero, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Tito Luminati, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Emanuele Fabbro MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Davide Orlandi MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Enzo Silvestri MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Cone-beam Computed Tomography (CB-CT) is a relatively recent imaging technique used to study dental arcades using a very low amount of ionizing radiations. Such an imaging technique also provides scans of paranasal sinuses. The purpose of our work was to compare the diagnostic outcome of CB-CT to that of Multi-detector Computed Tomography (MD-CT) in the assessment of paranasal sinuses in symptomatic patients.

Fifty patients (30 males,20 females,mean age 48±8.2) with positive sinusal clinical pathology, presenting at our Department to perform an evaluation of paranasal sinuses were included in our evaluation. They were randomly subdivided into two groups of 25 patients each, one undergoing CB-CT and the other MD-CT. The area included within 5 mm under the hard palate and 5 mm above the roof of frontal sinuses was assessed, together with the quality of bone tissue imaging, intrasinusal and estrasinusal soft tissues according to a semi-quantitative scale from 0 to 3 (0=not assessable, 1=poor, 2=adequate, 3=excellent). Images were assessed by two different teams, each one including a radiologist and an otorhinolaryngologist. Radiation dose of CB-CT was compared to that of MD-CT. U Mann-Whitney and Cohen's K statistics were used.

Both teams supplied independently the same results for CB-CT (bone=3, intrasinusal soft tissues=2, extrasinusal soft tissues=1) and for MD-CT (bone=3, intrasinusal soft tissues=2, extrasinusal soft tissues=2). Radiation dose administered using CB-CT was significantly lower than that administered using MD-CT (85.8–100.3µSv vs. 1,011–1,280 µSv; p<.01).

CB-CT can be effectively used to evaluate paranasal sinus diseases, being able to provide valuable information about bone and intrasinusal soft tissues. CB-CT administers a far lower radiation dose compared to MD-CT.

CB-CT allows a significant reduction of radiation dose administered to patients when evaluating paranasal sinuses diseases.

Caruso, P, Ferrero, G, Luminati, T, Fabbro, E, Orlandi, D, Silvestri, E, Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (CB-CT) in the Assessment of Paranasal Sinuses Diseases: Comparison to Multidetector Computed Tomography (MD-CT).  Radiological Society of North America 2011 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 26 - December 2, 2011 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2011/11011470.html