A COMPARISON OF ULTRASOUND AND PLAIN RADIOGRAPHY IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF MAXILLARY SINUSITIS

The diagnosis of maxillary sinusitis can be difficult, with clinical s igns and symptoms leading to a correct diagnosis in only approximately half of cases, This study compared ultrasound and plain radiography o f 50 maxillary antra (25 patients) with clinically suspected maxillary sinusitis, Ultrasound showed 100% concordance with plain radiographs reported as normal, and was abnormal in all cases where plain films we re reported as showing complete opacification or an air fluid level, t he only reliable plain film indicators of an inflamed antrum, We concl ude that ultrasound can provide an alternative to plain radiography in the initial investigation of maxillary sinusitis.