Read a CT Scan of the Sinuses
According to eMedicine, CT scanning of the sinuses is the preferred examination of choice to evaluate the paranasal sinuses of a patient with sinus problems and is a vital part in surgery planning. CT scans are very helpful in diagnosing sinusitis as well as other problems such as inflammation, tumors, deformations, cysts, polyps and infections, which makes CT scanning the most effective tool in diagnosing and treating problems of the sinuses.
Instructions
1. Place the film over fluorescent lighting so you have a better view of the film. It is best to have a dark room with only the fluorescent light on.
2. Verify the name and date on the film. This way you will make sure you are reading the film for the correct patient.
3. Check the orientation of the film. There will be L and R letters to let you know which side of the film corresponds to the left or right side of the patient's head. CT scans are usually read with the right side of the patients head to your left and the left side to your right.
4. Make sure you can identify the different structures of the patient's head. It may be necessary to look at more than one image to do this.
5. Read the film using the systemic way. You will see air, fat, water and bone. White areas in the film are bony structures; air is black and soft tissue. Fluid and muscles are shown in different shades of gray.
6. Look carefully and slowly at all the different structures to determine how they are performing given the patient's state of health. Analyze the size, distance, depth, width, relationship, presence or absence of features and position of the body structures.
7. Make a diagnosis based on your findings. For example, if there is a graying thickening at the border of the sinuses of more than 3 mm, the patient has serious sinusitis. If the ostiomeatal unit is narrowed, the patient has a problem with drainage. If the septum looks deviated, the patient has obstruction problems. If the ostium is blocked, that patient is in a great deal of pain. If the olfactory fossa is too deep, there is a good chance that the patient will suffer fractures or perforations with sinus surgery.
8. Look at any differences between the left and right side of the face. Problems on both sides point to sinusitis, while problems in only one side suggest a tumor.
Tags: right side, different structures, left right, left right side, more than, patient head
