Characterization of Maxillary Sinus in Patients with Facial Pain using Ultrasound

Abstract

Objectives: This study dealt with characterization of maxillary sinus in patients with facial pain using ultrasound. Methods: It was carried out on 50 patients complaining of maxillary sinus problems who were referred to the National Center of Ear, Nose and Throat Khartoum-Sudan. The instruments used were; Aloka SSD 500, Honda HS 2000 portable with curvilinear probe 3.5 MHz, and General Electric LOGIQ 5 Mobile with curvilinear and linear probe (3.5 MHz, 10 MHz). Results: patients were 27 males (54%) and 23 females (46%), their ages ranging between (20-70 years) and the most affected age group was the range (20-30 years). All of them were of maxillary pain (100%), 28 patients (56%) of halitosis, 29 (58%) postnasal drip, 30 (60%), stuffy nose, 27 (54%) fever and 17(34%) with of malaise. All patients were diagnosed previously by computerized tomography( CT )coronal scans. Ultrasound findings in the maxillary sinuses of the patients were 30% polyps with hypo echoic cavity, 12% fluid with hypo echoic cavity and the posterior margin was seen, 2% showed cyst with hypo echoic area and well defined borders,12% mucosal thickening, 38% normal sonographic appearance of hyper echoic anterior wall and cavity and the posterior margins were not seen, 6% polyps mucosal thickening with hypo echoic cavity with echogenic bony walls. Conclusion: The study concluded that the ultrasound has sensitivity of 76.6% and specificity of 92.2% and ultrasound is beneficial in diagnosis of maxillary sinus pathology and could be used as one of the diagnostic imaging modality ,as it is non invasive ,easy and with no radiation hazards.