Sinus X-ray

An x-ray is usually not performed in pregnant women unless it is an emergency.

Your doctor may order this test if he/she suspects that you have the following conditions:

• Sinusitis
• Deviated septum (Read more: Septoplasty procedure)
• Meningitis
• A blockage in the sinus like a tumour or a polyp (Read more: Nasal polyps symptoms)
• Orbital cellulitis 

Sinusitis is an inflammatory condition in which the sinuses get filled with fluid. 

Acute sinusitis occurs when the symptoms suddenly appear and do not go away even after ten days. In chronic sinusitis, the symptoms persist for at least 12 weeks. 

Some symptoms of sinusitis are as follows:

• Stuffy nose with thick nasal secretions
• Tenderness in the cheeks, forehead or between the eyes
• A feeling as if mucus is dripping down the back of the nose into the throat
• Cough
• Fever
• Earache
• Fatigue
• Tooth pain

Meningitis is an infection in the protective covering of the brain and spinal cord. It shows symptoms such as:

• Fever
• Headache
• Tiredness
• Stiffness in the neck
• Rash or spots
• Fits
• Light sensitivity 

Orbital cellulitis is the infection of the muscles and fats around your eyes. It shows symptoms like:

• Bulging eyes
• Painful swelling of the eyelid, eyebrow and cheek
• Decreased vision
• Fever
• Feeling ill
• Difficulty in moving eyes with double vision

A sinus X-ray is also used to look at the sinuses after a sinus surgery. Read more: Sinusotomy

Your healthcare provider will explain the test procedure and it’s risks to you. He/she may also give you certain instructions to follow before the test. Make sure to follow them properly. 

Inform your doctor if you:

• are pregnant.
• have a prosthetic (artificial) eye, as it may create a shadow on the sinus x-ray that may be misleading. 

Make sure to take off all your jewellery and any other items that may interfere with the test.

The technologist will perform the test as follows:

• You will be asked to sit or lie down on the x-ray table.
• A technologist will cover your body with a lead apron so it is not exposed to scattered x-rays.
• Then, he/she will carefully position your head so that it is between the x-ray film and the x-ray machine.
• The technician will ask you to keep your head still or may use a foam vice to keep your head in place while the x-ray is taken. 
• You may have to change your position a few times so that the technologist can take images from different angles to get more information.
• The test is usually completed in a few minutes.

You will not feel anything during the sinus x-ray.

The x-ray may detect the following problems in the sinuses:

• Bleeding
• Tumours or other growths
• Inflammation
• Infection
• Blockage

The benefits of this test are:

• Non-invasive
• Quick

The risks associated with this test are:

• X-ray exposure during pregnancy may cause birth defects.

After the test, you do not need any special care unless advised otherwise.

A CT scan or MRI of the sinuses may be suggested to get more detailed images.

Disclaimer: All results must be clinically correlated with the patient’s complaints to make a complete and accurate diagnosis. The above information is provided from a purely educational point of view and is in no way a substitute for medical advice by a qualified doctor.