Comparison of the Findings on Transillumination, X-Ray and Lavage of the Maxillary Sinus

THE accepted method of diagnosing any clinical condition is by history analysis and clinical examination. However, further investigation is often required before a definite diagnosis can be made. This is also true of maxillary sinusitis, especially if the condition is chronic. In maxillary sinusitis the investigations take the form of X-ray or transillumination of the sinuses. Considerable controversy exists as to whether X-ray examination of the sinuses is a reliable guide or not, as many factors apart from infection in the sinuses may produce clouding of the sinuses on the X-ray film. Thus the thickness of the vault bones or of the antral wall, overlying soft tissue swellings and poor X-ray technique may all produce clouding of the sinuses on the X-ray plate. Similarly, doubts regarding the accuracy of transillumination have been raised (Smith, 1961). With these facts in mind, it was decided to investigate the accuracy of the radiological diagnosis in patients referred to the Antrum Clinic at this hospital with suspected sinusitis.