Twenty-one patients with paranasal sinus disease were studied with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and CT: two with acute in Hammatory sinus disease, seven with chronic inflammatory sinus disease, four with squamous cell carcinomas, two with papillomas, one with malignant lymphoma, and five with mucoceles. In a few cases, no characteristic MRI abnormalities were detected. The distinction between paranasal tumor and in Hammatory mucosa was almost seen in MRI through clearness of periphery, homogeneity of structure, signal intensity, and enhancement by Gd-DTPA. However, there were some exceptions.
CT was useful mainly for bone details, and MRI for soft tissue, so CT and MRI provide different information. The use of both CT and MRI is recommended for the correct diagnosis of paranasal sinus disease. CT should be used initially and MRI should be a secondary examination.