AN ULTRASOUND DEVICE IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF ACUTE MAXILLARY SINUSITIS

This multicenter study comprised 161 consecutive and unselected patien ts with suspected acute maxillary sinusitis (AMS). Altogether 322 maxi llary sinuses were examined radiologically and by untrasound device (U S). Of these, 234 antra were punctured, aspirated and irrigated. The v olume of secretion coming out by irrigation was evaluated. The results of US, x-ray and irrigation were compared. For US, the proportion of correct positive results was 82.7% when the secretion volume was heavy , 78.6% when the secretion volume was moderate and 84.3% when the secr etion volume was slight. When US finding was compared with the punctur e result, the US gave false positive results in 8% of the cases and fa lse negative results in 18.5% of the cases. Out of 187 positive irriga tion findings, radiographs revealed fluid retention in 99 cases (score 3-6) (53%). Similarly, 11 radiographs showed fluid retention in 47 ca ses of negative irrigation findings (23.4%). Statistical calculation s hows that both US and radiology were equally reliable in diagnosing fl uid retention and sinusitis, when the results are compared with the fi ndings of the sinus puncture. US and radiology gave false positive End ings almost equally (p>0.05). On the other hand, when the volume of se cretion was slight (<1 mi), US gave a fluid echo Ending more often tha n radiology showed fluid retention.