What is a CT Sinus Scan Used For?

A CT sinus scan can help doctors identify:

• Sinusitis
• Sinus disease
• Results of sinus surgery
• Obstructions in the sinus drainage pathway

Sinuses are pockets of air in the facial bones. A thin layer of mucous lines these air pockets. On a CT sinus scan, facial bones show up white, while the air within the sinus shows up black. On a normal CT sinus scan, the mucous should not be seen at all. If, however, the mucus is thickened, a gray layer will appear on the CT scan between the white and the black. This gray will indicate the presence of sinusitis or other sinus infection or disease.

A CT sinus scan can also help doctors rule out certain conditions as root causes of sinus irritation.

CT sinus scans can also give doctors clues as to how to treat asthma, vocal chord dysfunction, and other illnesses.