Unilateral Opacification of Paranasal Sinus CT Scans

The aim of study was to describe the histopathology in patients with unilateral sinus opacification and to identify variables that may predict neoplastic pathology. A retrospective review of paranasal sinus CT scans performed between 2000 and 2003 was conducted to identify patients with unilateral sinus opacification. Twenty-eight of 1118 CT scans showed unilateral sinus opacification. Twelve patients had neoplastic disease, 13 had inflammatory disease. Nasal discharge was more common in inflammatory than neoplastic disease (P = 0.009). A polyp or mass lesion was more common on nasendoscopy in neoplastic than inflammatory disease (P = 0.01). Bony erosion was only identified in malignant disease. A wide variety of pathologies present with unilateral sinus opacification on CT scanning. In our series, neoplastic disease was more associated with a visible polyp or mass lesion and less with nasal discharge. Bony erosion on CT scan was only seen in malignant disease. Histologic confirmation remains obligatory for diagnosis.