How is a sinus MRI performed?

You will lie on a narrow table, which slides into a tunnel-shaped scanner. Small devices, called coils, are placed around the head. These devices help improve the quality of the images. Some exams require a special dye (contrast).

Will an MRI show up sinus problems?

MRI scans are very helpful in looking at cancers of the nasal cavities and paranasal sinuses. They are better than CT scans in telling whether a change is fluid or a tumor.

Does a sinus MRI show the brain?

However, a CT scan of the sinuses does not show any brain tissue. Most CT scans of the head do not . include all of the sinuses. For most problems in the brain that cause headache, MRI scans are more sensitive.

Do you go all the way in for a brain MRI?

Your whole body does not go in the machine, only the half or part that needs to be scanned. One thing you’ll need to know is that the machine is noisy. It makes a lot of different noises, and some of them are extremely loud. Some patients say it sounds like a sledgehammer.

What is a sinus tumor?

A paranasal sinus tumor is a cancer that has grown inside your sinuses, the open spaces behind your nose. This tumor can begin in the cells of the membranes, bones, or nerves that line the area. You might not know or even suspect that a tumor is growing until it spreads.

Can you get a tumor in your sinuses?

Is MRI or CT scan better for sinuses?

MRI allows better differentiation of soft tissue structures within the sinuses. It is used occasionally in cases of suspected tumors or fungal sinusitis. 17–19 Otherwise, MRI has no advantages over CT scanning in the evaluation of sinusitis.

Can an MRI detect nasal polyps?

CT and MRI findings can help diagnose the polyp or polyps; define the extent of the lesion in the nasal cavities, sinuses, and beyond; and narrow the differential diagnosis of an unusual polyp or clinical presentation.

What is a sinus MRI scan?

Sinus MRI scan. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of the sinuses creates detailed pictures of the air-filled spaces inside the skull. These spaces are called the sinuses. The test is noninvasive. MRI uses powerful magnets and radio waves instead of radiation. Signals from the magnetic field bounce off your body and are sent to a computer.

What does pseudo-pneumatized sinus look like on MRI?

Pseudo-pneumatized sinus on MR. Beware of fungus! The CT clearly shows the opacified sinus, which is slightly hyperdense. The signal characteristics on MRI and the attentuation on CT are a result of the high protein content of fungus.

What does an unenhanced CT scan of the Sinus Show?

If additional imaging is necessary, orbital MRI is the next step. The real value of unenhanced CT is the following: if you see an opacified sinus with hyperdense contents, it is usually a sign of benign disease. Tumor is not hyper-dense. On the left you see a case that was initially interpreted as a tumor.

What tests are done to diagnose sinus problems?

Imaging tests 1 X-rays. X-rays can show if there’s any fluid or masses in the sinuses. 2 CT (computed tomography) scan. A CT scan uses x-rays to make detailed 3-D cross-sectional images of the inside of your body. 3 MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan. 4 PET (positron emission tomography) scan.