BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuSinus x-rayParanasal sinus radiography; X-ray - sinusesA sinus x-ray is an imaging test to look at the sinuses. These are the air-filled spaces in the front of the skull.x-rayX-rays are a type of electromagnetic radiation, just like visible light. An x-ray machine sends individual x-ray waves through the body. The images...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article How the Test is Performed A sinus x-ray is taken in a hospital radiology department. Or the x-ray may be taken in your health care provider's office. You will be asked to sit in a chair so that any fluid in the sinuses can be seen in the x-ray images. The technologist may place your head in different positions as the images are taken. How to Prepare for the Test Tell your provider or x-ray technologist if you are or think you are pregnant. You will be asked to remove all jewelry. You may be asked to change into a gown. How the Test will Feel There is little or no discomfort with a sinus x-ray. Why the Test is Performed The sinuses are located behind the forehead, nasal bones, cheeks, and eyes. When the sinus openings become blocked or too much mucus builds up, bacteria and other germs can grow. This can lead to an infection and inflammation of the sinuses called sinusitis.SinusitisSinusitis is present when the tissue lining the sinuses become swollen or inflamed. It occurs as the result of an inflammatory reaction or an infect...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article A sinus x-ray is ordered when you have any of the following:Symptoms of sinusitis Other sinus disorders, such as a deviated septum (crooked or bent septum, the structure that separates the nostrils) Symptoms of another infection of that area of the headThese days, a sinus x-ray is not often ordered. This is because a CT scan of the sinuses shows more detail.CT scan of the sinusesA computed tomography (CT) scan of the sinus is an imaging test that uses x-rays to make detailed pictures of the air-filled spaces inside the face (...Read Article Now Book Mark Article What Abnormal Results Mean The x-ray may detect an infection, blockages, bleeding or tumors. Risks There is low radiation exposure. X-rays are monitored and regulated so that the lowest amount of radiation is used to produce the image.Pregnant women and children are more sensitive to the risks of x-rays.Open ReferencesReferencesBeale T, Jawad S. Head and neck radiology. In: Adam A, Dixon AK, Gillard JH, Schaefer-Prokop CM, eds. Grainger & Allison's Diagnostic Radiology. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 61.Mettler FA. Head and soft tissues of face and neck. In: Mettler FA, ed. Essentials of Radiology. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 2.AllVideoImagesTogSinuses - illustration The sinuses are hollow cavities within the facial bones. Sinuses are not fully developed until after age 12. When people speak of sinus infections, they are most frequently referring to the maxillary and ethmoid sinuses.SinusesillustrationSinuses - illustration The sinuses are hollow cavities within the facial bones. Sinuses are not fully developed until after age 12. When people speak of sinus infections, they are most frequently referring to the maxillary and ethmoid sinuses.Sinusesillustration Tests for Sinus x-ray Sinus x-rayX-raySinus CT scanSinus MRI scanSkull x-rayRelated Information X-ray(Medical Test)Mucosa(Special Topic)Sinusitis(Condition)Meningitis(Condition)Orbital cellulitis(Condition)Sinusitis - InDepth(In-Depth) Review Date: 9/10/2023 Reviewed By: Josef Shargorodsky, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.
Sinus x-rayParanasal sinus radiography; X-ray - sinusesA sinus x-ray is an imaging test to look at the sinuses. These are the air-filled spaces in the front of the skull.x-rayX-rays are a type of electromagnetic radiation, just like visible light. An x-ray machine sends individual x-ray waves through the body. The images...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article How the Test is Performed A sinus x-ray is taken in a hospital radiology department. Or the x-ray may be taken in your health care provider's office. You will be asked to sit in a chair so that any fluid in the sinuses can be seen in the x-ray images. The technologist may place your head in different positions as the images are taken. How to Prepare for the Test Tell your provider or x-ray technologist if you are or think you are pregnant. You will be asked to remove all jewelry. You may be asked to change into a gown. How the Test will Feel There is little or no discomfort with a sinus x-ray. Why the Test is Performed The sinuses are located behind the forehead, nasal bones, cheeks, and eyes. When the sinus openings become blocked or too much mucus builds up, bacteria and other germs can grow. This can lead to an infection and inflammation of the sinuses called sinusitis.SinusitisSinusitis is present when the tissue lining the sinuses become swollen or inflamed. It occurs as the result of an inflammatory reaction or an infect...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article A sinus x-ray is ordered when you have any of the following:Symptoms of sinusitis Other sinus disorders, such as a deviated septum (crooked or bent septum, the structure that separates the nostrils) Symptoms of another infection of that area of the headThese days, a sinus x-ray is not often ordered. This is because a CT scan of the sinuses shows more detail.CT scan of the sinusesA computed tomography (CT) scan of the sinus is an imaging test that uses x-rays to make detailed pictures of the air-filled spaces inside the face (...Read Article Now Book Mark Article What Abnormal Results Mean The x-ray may detect an infection, blockages, bleeding or tumors. Risks There is low radiation exposure. X-rays are monitored and regulated so that the lowest amount of radiation is used to produce the image.Pregnant women and children are more sensitive to the risks of x-rays.Open ReferencesReferencesBeale T, Jawad S. Head and neck radiology. In: Adam A, Dixon AK, Gillard JH, Schaefer-Prokop CM, eds. Grainger & Allison's Diagnostic Radiology. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 61.Mettler FA. Head and soft tissues of face and neck. In: Mettler FA, ed. Essentials of Radiology. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 2.