Diagnosis of frontal sinusitis: one-dimensional ultrasonography versus radiography.

In a series of 407 patients suffering from acute frontal sinusitis, 159 sinuses of 134 patients were trephined. Initial radiography of the operated sinuses pointed out a slight tendency to overdiagnosis; 19 (12 per cent) of the 157 sinuses with positive radiographic signs did not yield secretion. Radiography missed only two true cases of fluid retention. Accuracy of diagnosis by radiography was 87 per cent. Initial ultrasonography gave a sign of retained secretion in 127 cases, of which 122 (96 per cent) were true positive. However, 18 (13 per cent) tracings of the 140 sinuses with secretion gave wrong negative findings. Accuracy of diagnosis by ultrasonography was 86 per cent. It seems evident, that ultrasonography measures better retained secretion (excluding very small amounts) and radiography shows better mucosal swellings.