Sinusitis is an extremely unpleasant disease that causes complete nasal congestion and headaches. Without treatment, sinusitis can cause serious health problems. A visual examination is not enough for a doctor to make a diagnosis of maxillary sinus inflammation, therefore, doctors often prescribe a maxillary sinus x-ray as a control study. Photos of x-rays, detailed information about the procedure and possible complications can be found in this article.
X-ray history
X-rays - this is the greatest invention of mankind, which brought the diagnosis of many diseases to a new level. They were discovered in 1895 by the physicist Wilhelm Roentgen. The discovery happened by accident: a physicist conducted an experiment, which was to show whether cathode rays pass through glass. During the procedure, Conrad noticed a glow that came from a neighboring screen covered with a chemical solution. Open radiation was called "X-ray" (rays "X") due to its unknown at that time nature.
What are x-rays? These are electromagnetic waves, which in their structure are similar to light waves, but 1000 times shorter. The X-ray has conducted more than one test in order to better understand his discovery. He soon learned that X-rays penetrate human flesh, but cannot “enlighten” more dense matter, such as bone or iron.
The discovery of X-ray was a real medical miracle. Soon, X-ray became one of the most important diagnostic tools in medicine, allowing doctors to see the condition of human bones without surgery. In 1897, x-rays were first used to diagnose military fractures and gunshot wounds.
Sinus inflammation
We are all familiar with the symptoms of the common cold: stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat, fever and general malaise. Usually in a week everything comes back to normal. But if the symptoms do not go away after 7 days, then your maxillary sinuses can become inflamed and become a big problem. Sinusitis is an inflammation of the sinuses caused by a virus or bacterial infection. Most cases of sinusitis are acute, which means that they occur quite quickly, but last no more than 8 weeks. However, even during this period, the patient may experience a lot of inconvenience and suffer from congestion and headaches. In addition, during sinusitis people cease to smell and taste, which definitely does not contribute to a good mood.
When do I need to see a doctor? If you have been sick for more than 10 days, you have a high fever, headache and a swelling on your face, then you need to make an appointment with a specialist as soon as possible. Most likely, he will advise you to take an X-ray of the maxillary sinuses, which will show how serious the inflammation is and whether surgery is necessary.
X-ray with sinusitis
An X-ray of the maxillary sinuses can be recommended to you by an ordinary therapist or ENT specialist. Sinusitis is a very unpleasant disease that can be complicated by the fact that the infection passes to the bones or other tissues surrounding the inflamed area. With the advanced course of the disease, the patient may develop blindness. In addition, sinusitis is of key importance in the treatment of bronchitis and other respiratory diseases. A connection has long been established between inflammation in the nasopharynx, which then passes into the bronchi, and pulmonary diseases. To diagnose a standard course of the disease without complications, a traditional or panoramic picture is usually prescribed. X-rays can be done at any time, regardless of meals. It is enough to take off all metal objects and sit motionless in order to get a clear and informative picture. Sometimes the doctor prescribes several projections, so that the picture of the disease is more detailed.
The radiologist gives a description of the picture, but it may also be necessary for the otorhinolaryngologist. A competent specialist in the image can determine the severity of the disease and its nature (allergic or bacterial). In the picture, inflammation of the maxillary sinuses looks like a blackout in the nose or pincushion protrusion.
Indications
In what cases do you need to do an X-ray of the maxillary sinuses? Indications for the procedure are the symptoms of sinusitis. Usually this procedure is carried out in order to differentiate sinusitis from other diseases that cause similar symptoms. For example, nasal congestion and fever can cause tooth infections, inflammation of the jaw joint, etc. X-ray results are currently not considered very informative, so doctors consider them exclusively along with the patient’s medical history and examination. If the patient is diagnosed with acute sinusitis, then CT is prescribed, which allows you to see a more detailed picture of the condition of the sinuses and bones that surround them. What other indications for an x-ray exist?
- An inflammatory process that is diagnosed by a blood test.
- Injury to the bow.
- Bleeding from the nose.
- Tumor.
- Before surgery.
Where to make an X-ray of the maxillary sinuses? The procedure can be performed free of charge by compulsory medical insurance or in private clinics that have x-ray machines. But in that, and in another case, you will need a referral from a doctor.
Process
What information should be reported to the doctor before the examination?
- The presence of metal fillings, dentures of the jaw.
- The presence of pregnancy.
Also, before the start of the X-ray, you will be asked to familiarize yourself with the risks and consequences of the procedure. Modern devices do not pose much harm to the human body, as they have very low radiation. After all the formalities are settled, the doctor will ask you to put metal plates on the body, which will protect the internal organs from unnecessary radiation. Most often, an X-ray of the maxillary sinuses is performed standing or lying down. The head remains open and must be completely motionless. The X-ray image is absolutely painless and looks more like a kind of photo shoot than a real medical procedure. After the picture is received, you will need to wait a little while until it appears. After that, the doctor will make a brief description of the problem, and you will be free. As a rule, an x-ray is prescribed after a blood test has been taken. Therefore, this diagnostic method is rarely used in normal analyzes, because they mean that there is no inflammation and the reason lies in something else.
X-ray Results
The result of the x-ray can show both inflammation and the normal condition of the tissues. Sinusitis is excluded in the following cases:
- Bone tissue has a normal structure.
- There is no sign of fluid in the sinuses.
- The mucous membrane is not thickened.
Symptoms of sinusitis on x-rays are usually manifested as follows:
- The pneumatization of the jaw decreases.
- Blackouts are visible in the image in the region of the maxillary sinuses.
Also, cysts or tumors, which also indicate the presence of an inflammatory process, can be seen on the x-ray.
Cysts
A cyst is a pathology that can be found quite often. By itself, it represents a wall and a cavity filled with pus, blood or mucus. Most often, cysts are formed as a result of inflammatory processes, so they are usually considered an indirect sign of sinusitis. The maxillary sinus cyst on the x-ray looks like a slight dimming with an edge inside the sinus, or dimming the entire area of the sinus. Cysts prevent patients from breathing, nausea appears in the voice, and a person complains of loss of smell. The contents of the neoplasm can be released outward at any time and cause chronic inflammation, which will lead to unpleasant consequences. After all, inside the cysts there are a lot of bacteria that have no place in a healthy human body.
If the doctor found a cyst on an x-ray, then most likely he will send the patient for a more detailed examination using CT or MRI. Further treatment will depend on the condition of the patient and the neglect of the pathology. To begin with, they will try to get rid of cysts with the help of conservative treatment and only after that they will resort to surgery.
Blackout
One of the main signs of sinusitis in the pictures is the blackout in the region of the maxillary sinuses. However, this is not always the result of this particular disease. Dimming of the maxillary sinuses on an X-ray can also indicate sinusitis, frontal sinusitis, or another inflammatory process. There are two types of dimming: subtotal and total. The first indicates inflammation, in which a fluid (pus) formed, which took 2/3 of the sinuses. Total blackout indicates an extremely neglected course of the disease, which threatens with serious complications. As a rule, at this stage the patient experiences tremendous pressure on the eyes and in the nose, cannot breathe and feels general weakness. Only a doctor can establish an accurate diagnosis and distinguish one disease from another, therefore it is important to turn to him for help as soon as possible.
Polyp
A polyp is another unpleasant neoplasm that can be seen on an x-ray. Outgrowths appear due to the growth of the epithelium, which eventually forms into painful growths that block the entrance. Symptoms of polyps in the nose are nasal congestion, loss of smell, purulent discharge, a foreign body sensation. Since all these symptoms can also indicate sinusitis, the ENT often prescribes an X-ray to make a correct diagnosis.
On the X-ray of the maxillary sinus, polyps are not visible, since they are usually too small. But if the process is very running and the growth has occupied most of the sinus, then the picture will show a blackout in this area. What are the treatments for polyps?
- Drug therapy can eliminate the inflammatory process and reduce the growth of polyps. Anti-allergy drugs are used to relieve swelling and inflammation.
- If the medication did not have the proper effect, but surgical treatment is prescribed. Polyps are removed using special nozzles that allow surgery to be performed without dissecting the sinuses.
Features of the procedure in children
X-rays in children have a number of features. In particular, such a study does not provide much information, since the maxillary sinuses are too poorly visible in children. However, in some cases, it can see an increase in tonsils and accumulation of pus. Most often, X-rays are prescribed to children not with sinusitis, but with enlarged adenoids. Other methods are used to diagnose sinus inflammation: MRI or CT.
Where to make a child x-ray of the maxillary sinuses? The procedure can be performed in a clinic, in a hospital (in the inpatient unit) or in a private center.
Sinusitis in pregnant women
Is it possible for pregnant women to do an X-ray of the maxillary sinuses with sinusitis? These questions are often asked by future mothers who are "lucky" to catch this unpleasant disease. X-rays for pregnant women are prescribed extremely rarely. Since with sinusitis, the picture does not give a clear picture, the diagnosis is made mainly by the totality of signs. But it is also impossible to prevent a worsening of the disease, therefore, most often, a puncture method is used for diagnosis and simultaneous treatment. The doctor punctures the sinus wall with a special sterile needle and removes all the pus, and a disinfectant liquid is injected into its place, which kills pathogenic microbes. The procedure is almost painless and does not harm either the mother or the fetus.
Expert Advice
Experts recommend that you think about the following information before an X-ray of the maxillary sinuses with sinusitis.
- There is little risk of radio emission. Therefore, X-rays are recommended to be done no more than once every three months.
- X-ray for sinusitis is much cheaper than computed tomography, but shows less detail.
- An x-ray of the maxillary sinuses may show inaccurate results when examining children under one year of age.
- It does not show enough information about the sinuses located on the nose bridge, as well as in the posterior part of the nasal passage (sphenoid sinuses).
- It is difficult enough to interpret the results of an X-ray of the maxillary sinuses. A doctor may confuse sinusitis with another disease.
Summary
Sinusitis is a serious disease, therefore, at the slightest suspicion, you need to contact a specialist. He can send an X-ray, which will make it possible to diagnose faster, and prescribe the necessary treatment.