The Value of Roentgen Examination of the Paranasal Sinuses

Abstract

The widespread employment of roentgen methods in the examination of paranasal sinus disease suggests that these methods are of considerable practical value. In an effort to determine to what extent this assumption is correct, roentgenologic and clinical observations regarding the sinuses have been reviewed in a considerable number of case records. Roentgenologic impressions have been compared with symptoms, physical signs, and, where available, operative findings. At the University Hospital during the two-year-period ending June 30, 1936, 1,248 patients were referred to the Department of Roentgenology for examination of the paranasal sinuses. This group represents 1.8 per cent of all diagnostic procedures conducted by the Department during the 24-month interval. Records of 1,000 consecutive cases of suspected sinus disease were withdrawn from files for this period. One hundred and forty-six of these records were promptly discarded because of inadequate clinical information or inconclusive roentgen finding...