Thanks to radiography, you can correctly diagnose, as well as take the path of treatment and find a way to become a healthy person! An X-ray examination is carried out on a special apparatus that uses gamma radiation, thanks to which it is possible to visualize the internal organs and bone tissues.

X-ray of the sinuses of the nose is used by otolaryngologists in the case of:

• open and closed injuries in the skull area;
• inflammation in the paranasal and frontal sinuses. The paranasal sinus is a cavity filled with air. The most common inflammatory diseases are sinusitis and frontal sinusitis;
• acute and chronic sinusitis;
• hit by a foreign object;
• suspected polyps, tumor or osteoma;
• to control treatment or prepare for surgery.

It should be remembered that the pathology can be congenital and acquired, so it is important to keep all documents confirming the diagnostic procedure (so that a comparative analysis can be carried out).

Thanks to the x-ray of the sinuses, the following conditions are determined:

• sinusitis;
• frontites;
• ethmoiditis;
• neoplasms;
• polyps and cysts.

Important symptoms to watch out for

Unfortunately, sinus problems can occur suddenly, even in healthy people. There can be a huge variety of reasons, ranging from hypothermia to injuries and infectious diseases.

If these symptoms appear, you should consult a therapist or ENT:

• intense headache;
• temperature rise;
• frequent bleeding from the nose;
• after orvi soreness in the sinuses;
• stuffy nose;
• prolonged nasal discharge.

Features of the X-ray examination of the sinuses

For x-rays, an adult and a child do not need to carry out preliminary preparation, it is enough to get a referral from a doctor and go for diagnostics. The only condition is that you need to remove all metal products, prostheses and glasses from yourself. When metal interacts with gamma rays, it distorts the image.

X-rays of the sinuses are taken in two projections- occipital-frontal and occipital-chin. The procedure does not take more than two minutes. The patient during the procedure must take a vertical position. The upper part of the patient's torso is covered with a tight apron. Take a picture at the moment when the patient held his breath.

Radiation dose with x-rays is minimal, but still it is prescribed with caution to children and pregnant women. During pregnancy, this procedure is prescribed only in case of emergency, as it is considered unsafe for the health of the child. During the period of intrauterine development, it is undesirable for a child to be exposed to even minimal exposure to x-ray waves, as this can cause the formation of defects.

In preschool and primary school age, the influence of X-rays negatively affects the formation of bone tissue, so if this procedure can be avoided, doctors do everything possible.

As a result of the study, a picture is obtained, which is subject to decoding by a radiologist. First, the picture is developed, then dried and the study begins.

Clean, even borders and places without blackouts indicate a positive course of the treatment process. If during decoding questions arise related to image quality, a more advanced diagnostic method can be used - computed tomography or MRI. And as an alternative to x-rays, choose contrast x-rays.

Complications with sinusitis

Direction for x-rays is most often obtained with sinusitis. This insidious disease occurs in the area of ​​the mucous membranes of the paranasal maxillary sinuses. In the picture, you can observe the darkening on one or both sides. This suggests that the purulent fluid filled the sinuses.

The cyst is visualized in the picture by the characteristic darkening along the edges of the sinuses.

How many times can an x-ray of the sinuses be taken

How often can a sinus x-ray be taken? The dose for this type of x-ray is minimal, therefore it is customary to prescribe x-rays as many times as the treatment requires.

The doctor notes all appointments in the outpatient card, therefore, all responsibility for the appointment of the procedure lies with him.

Contraindications for the study

When conducting a study, it is important not to violate the boundaries of what is permitted, since we are talking about the interaction of the human body with gamma rays. Not always the body can respond normally to this type of radiation, so precautions should be followed.

Important contraindications to the procedure:

• Pregnancy and lactation.
• Children under the age of seven.
• Exceeding the annual limit of procedures - more than three times a year.

X-ray of the sinuses: what shows

In the picture you can see the maxillary and frontal sinuses, the main sinus, the ethmoid labyrinth, the bones of the skull, the orbits. The results of the study are evaluated by the doctor for the presence of air in the sinuses, the state of the nasopharyngeal space, bone tissue and nasal cavity.

Deciphering the image during inflammation allows you to see signs of swelling, compaction or accumulation of pus. What does darkening or thickening, changing the shape of the septum or deformation of the tissue mean, only a specialist knows. A description of the condition of the sinuses allows the doctor to determine the diagnosis and begin the correct treatment.

The patient can decipher some diagnoses:

• inflammation of all paranasal sinuses - pansinusitis;
• inflammation of the sinuses of the frontal region - frontal sinusitis;
• exudative process in the maxillary sinuses - sinusitis.

The most dangerous complication that inflammatory processes in the sinuses lead to is inflammation of the meninges. Correct diagnosis and treatment is needed to stop inflammation.

Secrets of diagnostics of radiologists

It is enough for a specialist to look at the picture to determine what abnormalities have occurred in the tissues of the nasal sinuses, the symptoms of which diseases are drawn in the picture, and to assess the extent of the injury in the event of an accident.

Signs and their decoding:

• Outside the boundaries of the sinus of the nose there is a rounded bright spot - the appearance of a neoplasm or cyst.
• The lumen in the nasal sinus is narrowed, the walls are thickened - a chronic inflammatory process in the sinus.
• The bone wall has a non-standard shape, thickened or has uncharacteristic seals - trauma or fracture.
• A dense formation is a tumor.
• The mucosa is thickened, fluid collects in the sinuses - acute inflammation.

How to recognize that an x-ray is normal

Studying an x-ray, even a person without a medical education will distinguish the location of the maxillary, frontal and paranasal sinuses, the ethmoid labyrinth. And questions of decryption should be entrusted to a professional!

The radiologist will find out what the picture shows, and will issue a conclusion about the state of the bone tissue of the nasal cavity and adjacent tissues, assess the condition of the nasal septa and analyze the images.

Good indicators are such images:

• in the nasal cavity, the boundary of the division of the nasal septum is clearly traced;
• the nasal passages are lighter in comparison with the nasal conchas;
• the boundaries of the maxillary sinuses have delineated boundaries;
• between the eye sockets there is a ethmoid sinus with thin walls, and above them are the frontal sinuses.

Diseases that are somehow connected with the nose follow people everywhere. They are considered the most frequent problems, which many, unfortunately, do not pay due attention to. This approach is wrong, it can lead to serious health problems in the future. For this reason, when the first symptoms appear (snot, pain in the nose, discomfort), you should immediately contact a qualified specialist. It is important to understand that any delay will only aggravate the situation. It should be understood that even an experienced doctor will have to confirm the alleged diagnosis, and since it is far from always possible to draw accurate conclusions on the basis of an examination, there are also diagnostic methods, the most popular of which is an x-ray of the sinuses. But with protracted illnesses, it is always necessary to do more than one procedure (diagnosis, the effect of starting treatment, checking the condition of the sinuses after the course), so many people ask how often x-rays of the sinuses can be done.

When is a sinus x-ray prescribed?

In order to delve into this topic, it is important to understand the general points. Let's analyze the question of when to do an x-ray of the sinuses, as well as whether this procedure is important at all. The most common cause of this is various inflammatory processes, namely sinusitis. Having made an x-ray, you will definitely help the specialist choose your diagnosis from the list of possible ailments. The fact is that different diseases can affect different sinuses, and the impact on them varies. For example, with sinusitis, inflammatory processes are located in the region of the upper jaw, and with frontal sinusitis, they are observed in the region of the frontal lobe. As for such a disease as ethmoiditis, it involves a significant darkening in the region of the mastoid cells. Thus, the specialist diagnoses many other ailments.

It is worth noting that similar pathological processes are observed in both children and adults, and their particular danger lies in the fact that they can often be confused with the common cold, if you do not turn to specialists! Let us clarify that such cases from the common cold can be distinguished by significant intensity. For example, sinusitis will always be accompanied by nasal congestion, which does not recede even after washing, and the disease can also manifest itself with characteristic yellow or green mucus.

If the patient has a suspicion of sinusitis, then an x-ray of the sinuses is prescribed.

Despite the danger of sinusitis itself, special attention should be paid to its most serious consequences, which will definitely appear in the absence of treatment or inattention during it. We are talking, of course, about meningitis, which many people could have avoided if time had taken a picture with the help of X-ray equipment. Meningitis is a rather difficult to treat and incredibly dangerous disease that causes serious harm to the human body. For this reason, it is much easier to prevent its development at the first suspicion of sinusitis. Many people do an x-ray of the nose every day, you should not be afraid of this, despite the radiation, which we will talk about a little later. We also note that without such a procedure, an experienced doctor, of course, will establish the problem itself, but it will be difficult even for him to identify the location of the focus.

Note! X-ray of the sinuses can be useful in other situations, for example, with a broken nose, as well as suspicions of cysts, tumors (malignant or benign). It is important to understand that in the presence of the same tumors, they can only be detected, but detailed diagnostics will be carried out additionally using, for example, MRI!

Here is another list of situations when specialists prescribe this procedure:

• the process of preparation for the operation or control after it;
• the presence of any specific discharge from the nose, which persists even with treatment;
• persistent nosebleeds, the cause of which is unknown;
• suspicion of problems with the nose with constant increases in body temperature;
• pain in the forehead, the severity of which increases with forward bending;
• redness or even swelling of the skin.

X-ray image clearly shows: frontal sinuses, maxillary sinuses, ethmoid labyrinth.

What characterizes a normal radiograph?

Before discussing the question of how sinus x-rays are taken, it is worth talking about normal results that will not require a second procedure, and you will not need to worry about the number of procedures. Here are the main sinuses that can be seen in the picture (it is their condition that can be checked using x-rays):

• maxillary;
• frontal;
• ethmoid paranasal sinuses (it is important to understand that for the diagnosis of sinusitis associated with these sinuses, you need to have special equipment, a conventional x-ray machine will not cope with this);
• cells of the temporal bones;
• paranasal main.

And here are the basic conditions for healthy sinuses:

1. Thinness and excellent clarity of the walls of the bones.
2. A good level of airiness of the sinuses (this indicator is easy to check: compare these sinuses with the airiness of the orbits of the eyes, the indicators should be the same).
3. The cells of the ethmoid bone should be clearly visible on the picture.

X-ray of the sinuses of the nose allows you to detect the disease in the initial stages and prescribe timely treatment.

What can be seen in the pictures?

Many patients are interested in the issue of what cavities can be seen on the pictures, as well as how clearly it will be possible to make a diagnosis based on the information obtained. According to experts, the most important thing in such situations is to establish the location of the main inflammation, on suspicion of the presence of which, in most cases, the procedure is prescribed. For example, if you have sinusitis, inflammation will be observed in the paranasal sinuses. It is important to understand that in the picture this will look like a slight semi-oval darkening that has affected both sides of the nose. In the area of ​​​​the lateral sinuses in such situations, bacteria and fluid accumulate, and in fairly large quantities.

Note! The lateral sinuses are exactly the place in which specialists most often find a focus of sinusitis! In the event that even obvious symptoms are ignored, then gradually the disease will begin to move to the same frontal areas. In such a case, everything will look approximately the same as in the last analyzed situation, but the darkening will already hit the place above the nose!

It is worth mentioning that in some situations several sinuses are affected at once, which can mean only one thing - the presence of several different diseases at the same time. Let us clarify that treatment in such and even the simplest situations is always situational, but it will not be considered, since it should be prescribed strictly by a specialist.

We will also discuss the issue regarding the projection of images, the fact is that they are most often made in two projections, namely, in the front and in the side, which allows you to most accurately examine the condition of the sinuses. As for the method as a whole, even the presence of several projections does not allow achieving the results that are being made when identifying certain ailments. We are talking, for example, about the presence or absence of fluid in the sinuses, and it is on it (and its type) that all further treatment depends.

Important! Sometimes specialists prefer to do x-rays of the sinuses with contrast. Thus, you can most accurately see the situation in the patient. It is worth noting that this is used more often only in situations where the doctor suspects the recurrence of diseases or the presence of a cyst, the same can be said about tumors. Such a diagnosis will allow you to draw accurate conclusions about further treatment, and perhaps such a procedure will even save your life.

The use of contrast will simply change the area in which the growths are located, it will be different from all other cavities (from the norm). Thus, making a diagnosis becomes a fairly simple task.

Harm of the procedure - how many times a year can x-rays of the sinuses be done?

Many people ask the question of whether it is possible to do an x-ray of the sinuses, what harm will the body do from this, and how many times you can visit the treatment room. We note right away that during such a procedure, the radiation dose to the body is 0.1-1.2 mSv, which is quite small. It is important to understand that such differences are based only on the quality of the equipment used in the process. It is recommended to visit paid private institutions where the most modern equipment is installed. Thus, the procedures can be done very often and with little or no harm to the body.

Now it is worth drawing conclusions about whether this procedure is harmful to a person in principle and with constant exposure. Note that the annual measure, according to experts, should be approximately 150 mSv. For this reason, even 3-4 procedures do not increase the risk of developing cancer, since their exposure is very small.

Please note that the radiation exposure will even be displayed in your card if you go to a good medical institution, so the doctors themselves will not allow situations when this indicator exceeds the norm. If necessary (if a large number of procedures are performed), these indicators are summed up without problems by the employees of the medical center. It is important to understand that you can help reduce the negative impact on the body, just use the following tools that can help in the recovery process:

• antioxidants;
• vitamins of groups C, E or A;
• dairy products.

Also, patients often ask if it is possible for pregnant women to do an x-ray of the sinuses, let's take a closer look at situations in which you should not do this procedure without urgent need.

Who should not have a sinus x-ray?

First, it is worth mentioning not about the situation when an X-ray is considered during pregnancy, but about the one when some specialists do not want to do the procedure for preschool children. Perhaps this approach is correct, since the child's body is not as strong as an adult, but there are situations when the goal is fully justified (terrible consequences are possible).

During pregnancy, the situation is the same. The only difference is that during pregnancy, harm can cause the fetus. Do not ignore this warning! During pregnancy, the child is most vulnerable to the effects of such rays. Perhaps this is the only situation when an x-ray is definitely not worth doing. During pregnancy, try to give preference to other methods.

X-ray of the paranasal sinuses- radiographic method of examination of the paranasal sinuses. An x-ray of the sinuses allows you to assess the presence of inflammation, fluid, as well as fractures, displacement of the bones of the nose.

In what cases is required. X-ray of the paranasal sinuses is performed to diagnose the presence of foreign bodies, cysts, tumors, wounded bones, stunted teeth, fractures of the bones of the face, absence and underdevelopment of the sinuses, inflammation of the paranasal sinuses.

Procedure. X-ray of the nose does not require special preparation. Contraindications: pregnancy, lactation, open pneumothorax, pulmonary bleeding. When performing an x-ray, the patient leans on his chin, during the picture it is necessary to keep his mouth open.

Price. The average cost of an x-ray of the paranasal sinuses: 1200 rubles.

Questions and answers:

Where to make an x-ray of the paranasal sinuses in Moscow?

The DocDoc.ru website contains the best clinics in Moscow that perform diagnostic x-rays of the paranasal sinuses. Choose a center for this procedure right on our website according to important criteria for you: location of the center, price, work schedule.

How much does an x-ray of the paranasal sinuses cost?

Prices for x-rays of the paranasal sinuses depend on many factors, primarily on the quality of the equipment and the location of the diagnostic center. On DocDoc.ru you will find the best centers in Moscow, which you can sort by the cost of the procedure. The questionnaire of each center contains information about its work schedule, as well as a telephone number by which you can immediately sign up for the study.

Sometimes, after suffering colds, the condition will worsen again. The temperature rises, the flow of mucus from the nose increases, nasal breathing becomes difficult, heaviness in the forehead and headache appear. All of these warning signs point to sinusitis, an inflammation of the airways.

In the diagnosis of sinusitis, the leading role belongs to the X-ray of the paranasal sinuses. Without high-quality images, it is impossible to judge the nature and severity of inflammation, and incorrect diagnosis can lead to complications of sinusitis from the ENT organs and the brain. Therefore, sinus images should be taken in modern medical facilities, and Miracle Doctor is one of such clinics.

Benefits of sinus radiography at the Miracle Doctor Clinic

• Doctors
  Our radiologists have the first and highest qualification categories. These are experienced specialists who have been diagnosing various diseases of ENT organs for many years, incl. - Inflammatory processes in the airways.
• Equipment
  Our modern devices from the best foreign manufacturers have the maximum resolution.

Three reasons for having an x-ray of the nose and sinuses at the Miracle Doctor clinic

• informative
  Thanks to modern digital technologies, we get images with maximum resolution. Digital photography is not only high quality, but also convenient. There is no need to store a large number of films - all data is entered into a computer or reproduced on digital media. For many patients, we make repeated x-rays to assess the dynamics of the process and the effectiveness of the treatment.
• Comprehensive nature of the study
  In the process of radiography, we examine not only one sinus, but all - two maxillary, two frontal, sphenoid (or main), as well as cells of the ethmoid bone. Along with the sinuses, neighboring anatomical regions are also examined. For example, radiography of the maxillary sinuses is combined with radiography of the eye sockets, upper jaw, oral cavity, and temporal bone. Thanks to complex diagnostics, we detect complications in time in the very initial phase of their development.
• Diagnosis of all age categories
  We examine not only adults, but also children, because small patients are largely susceptible to sinusitis.

X-ray of the sinuses in the clinic

No special preparation is required for sinus x-rays. Remove metal jewelry before X-ray exposure. Removable dentures also need to be removed. When evaluating the data, attention is paid to the clarity of the contours of the walls, pneumatization (airiness), the presence of structural changes, blackouts in the sinuses.

With the help of x-rays in the sinuses, purulent effusion, traumatic injuries, congenital anomalies, as well as various types of tumors, incl. cysts and polyps.

For sinusitis, we take at least 3 x-rays. The first - at the beginning of the disease or at the time of treatment. The next picture (or several) is taken in the course of treatment, the last one - during recovery.

If you have characteristic complaints, you can perform an x-ray of the nose, after agreeing the date of its conduct with our staff.