What are the key components of a comprehensive article on the radiology of paranasal sinuses?

From the Guidelines

A comprehensive article on the radiology of paranasal sinuses should prioritize the most recent and highest quality evidence, which suggests that computed tomography (CT) is the gold standard for evaluating bony structures and mucosal disease, while magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is preferred for evaluating complications and distinguishing between inflammation and neoplasm 1.

Key Components of a Comprehensive Article

The article should cover:

• Normal anatomy of the four paired sinuses (maxillary, ethmoid, frontal, and sphenoid) and their drainage pathways, including the osteomeatal complex
• Imaging modalities, including CT and MRI, and their respective advantages and disadvantages
• A systematic approach to image interpretation, including assessment of mucosal thickening, air-fluid levels, bone erosion, and anatomical variants like concha bullosa or Haller cells
• Common pathologies such as acute and chronic rhinosinusitis, fungal sinusitis, mucoceles, polyps, and neoplasms, with their characteristic imaging appearances
• Surgical considerations, including preoperative planning for functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) and identification of critical structures like the optic nerve and carotid artery
• Complications of sinus disease, including orbital, intracranial, and osseous involvement
• Post-treatment imaging findings and follow-up protocols to evaluate treatment response and disease recurrence

Imaging Modalities

• CT is the gold standard for evaluating bony structures and mucosal disease, and is particularly useful for preoperative planning and surgical guidance 1
• MRI is preferred for evaluating complications and distinguishing between inflammation and neoplasm, and is particularly useful for detecting intracranial and orbital complications 1
• Radiography is limited in its ability to evaluate sinus disease, and is not recommended as a primary imaging modality 1

Clinical Considerations

• The article should emphasize the importance of clinical presentation and physical examination findings in diagnosing sinus disease, and the need for imaging studies to confirm the diagnosis and evaluate the extent of disease 1
• The article should also discuss the role of imaging studies in guiding treatment and evaluating treatment response, and the need for follow-up imaging studies to monitor disease recurrence 1

From the Research

Key Components of a Comprehensive Article on Radiology of Paranasal Sinuses

A comprehensive article on the radiology of paranasal sinuses should include the following key components:

• Overview of imaging techniques: The article should describe the various imaging techniques used to evaluate the paranasal sinuses, including computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) 2, 3.
• Advantages and disadvantages of individual techniques: The article should discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each imaging technique, including their sensitivity, specificity, and radiation dose 3, 4.
• Normal anatomy and anatomic variants: The article should provide a detailed description of the normal anatomy of the paranasal sinuses and adjacent structures, as well as common anatomic variants 5, 6.
• Pathologies involving the paranasal sinuses: The article should discuss the various pathologies that can affect the paranasal sinuses, including chronic sinusitis, malignant disease, and trauma 2, 3.
• Clinical implications and reporting: The article should discuss the clinical implications of identifying anatomic variations and pathologies, and provide guidance on how to prepare a structured report according to the expectations of the referring clinician 5, 6.

Imaging Techniques

The article should discuss the following imaging techniques:

• CT: The article should describe the use of CT in evaluating the paranasal sinuses, including its advantages and disadvantages 3, 5.
• MRI: The article should describe the use of MRI in evaluating the paranasal sinuses, including its advantages and disadvantages 3, 4.
• Other imaging modalities: The article should discuss the limited role of other imaging modalities, such as plain film radiography and ultrasound, in evaluating the paranasal sinuses 3.

Preoperative Evaluation

The article should discuss the importance of preoperative evaluation of the paranasal sinuses, including:

• CT scans before functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) 5.
• MRI in the preoperative diagnosis of chronic sinusitis 4.
• The role of imaging in planning surgical procedures and evaluating anatomical variants 3, 5.