{"id":3106,"date":"2018-09-26T16:05:10","date_gmt":"2018-09-26T16:05:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rayusradiology.com\/?p=3106"},"modified":"2021-08-12T08:57:54","modified_gmt":"2021-08-12T13:57:54","slug":"how-to-find-answers-to-sinus-problems-with-a-ct-sinus-exam","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rayusradiology.com\/blog\/how-to-find-answers-to-sinus-problems-with-a-ct-sinus-exam\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Find Answers to Sinus Problems with a CT Sinus Exam"},"content":{"rendered":"
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At night, the cough that was annoying Maria Ocasio all day becomes painful. When she tries to sleep, persistent coughing leaves her out of breath and makes her lungs hurt. After weeks of living with it and thinking she\u2019d get better on her own, Maria saw her doctor who sent her for an allergy study. But the results didn\u2019t provide an answer as to the source of her problem. Next, her doctor sent Maria to RAYUS Radiology (RAYUS) to get a look at her sinuses with the help of a sinus CT exam.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Common symptoms that CT sinus can help diagnose<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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Stories like Maria\u2019s are common says Jason Port, MD, medical director of RAYUS Springfield, MA. Oftentimes something that starts like a common cold can persist. Your symptoms might include nasal congestion, blocked nasal passages, thick postnasal drainage, sinus headaches, pressure, facial pain, or even a loss of your sense of smell.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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After you\u2019d expect a cold to run its course, and it hasn\u2019t, you may end up in your doctor\u2019s office like Maria. If the trial and error of different treatment options don\u2019t make a difference, your doctor may recommend a CT sinus exam<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Matthew Marino, MD of ENT Associates in Chesterfield, MO outside of St. Louis specializes in nasal and sinus disorders. \u201cGenerally, those who get a sinus scan will be those who fail to respond to the medical treatment that we provide,\u201d he explains. A CT sinus exam allows him to see what\u2019s happening in your sinuses, which are located behind your nose, cheeks, eyes, and forehead. The answers he gets from a CT scan can be life-changing for patients. Dr. Marino recalls one case where a woman came to him unable to taste or smell. The CT sinus images guided his decision that surgery would help.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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How a CT sinus scan helps patients<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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If you\u2019re suffering from prolonged symptoms like those mentioned above, your first step is to see your doctor. Usually your primary care physician will order a CT sinus, but an allergist or ENT specialist can also order the scan. The exam is quick and comfortable. You\u2019re on your back in the scanner for five minutes or less, and in that short amount of time, the images taken can give our radiologists and your doctor a lot of information. Dr. Port explains that when he\u2019s interpreting the images for your doctor, he\u2019s looking for things like a thickening of the lining of your sinuses. Here are some specific things our radiologists can see from your scan:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n