VALIDITY OF ULTRASONOGRAPHY IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF ACUTE MAXILLARY SINUSITIS IN CHILDREN

Abstract

To clarify the validity of ultrasonography (US) in sagittal view in the diagnosis of acute maxillary sinusitis (AMS) in children, we studied the following.
1. US findings of normal maxillary sinuses were examined in 26 healthy volunteer (aged: 0-29). Maxillary sinuses will be detectable by US in patients more than 2 or 3 years old.
2. US findings of maxillary sinuses in the patients with acute rhinosinusitis were divided into three types as follows: Type I: positive air bubbles in the cavity, Type II: visualisation of the posterior wall of the maxillary sinus, Type III: visualisation of the posterior wall and back-echo of the posterior wall.
3. Radiographic and US findings were compared in 29 patients with clinically suspected AMS. All patients who had Type III US findings showed radiographical AMS.
4. Nine patients who had AMS were treated by antibiotics. Positive US findings disappeared by antibiotic therapy. From these findings, we conclude that the detection of positive back-echo of the posterior wall in US findings is a useful marker in the diagnosis of AMS in children.