Micro-dose Paranasal Computed Tomography is Valuable When Evaluating Diseases of the Paranasal Sinuses

Aim: We explored whether a reduction in the radiation dose affected the quality of diagnostic images generated using third-generation dual-source computed tomography (CT) running advanced third-generation iterative reconstruction software. Methods: From February to May 2015, 72 consecutive patients aged 16 to 64 years with clinically suspected sinusitis were randomly and prospectively enrolled and divided into two groups (standard or micro-dose CT). Anatomical landmarks and mucosal structures were independently evaluated by a radiologist and an otorhinolaryngologist using a four-point grading scale. Mean scores were calculated and compared. Results: All images were of diagnostic quality. The mean effective radiation dose was significantly lower in patients evaluated via the micro-dose protocol (group 2) than in those evaluated using the standard protocol (group 1) (p0.05). Conclusion: The radiation dose to the paranasal sinus delivered during CT in patients with suspected sinusitis can be reduced to 0.003 mSv using third-generation dual-source CT running advanced iterative reconstruction software. Keywords: Paranasal sinus