CT Evaluation of Sinusitis: Discrepancies Between Clinical Diagnosis and Radiologic Reality With Prevalence and Patterns in Northern Jordan

Rhinosinusitis is a common inflammatory condition affecting the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses. Computed tomography (CT) of the sinuses has become the preferred imaging modality for evaluating complex sinus diseases. It can reduce over-reliance on clinical symptoms alone. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between clinical symptoms and CT imaging findings in patients diagnosed clinically with sinusitis. This is a cross-sectional, observational study conducted at the main tertiary hospital in northern Jordan. The inclusion criteria included patients aged 18 years or older who presented with suspected sinusitis at the ENT outpatient clinics between January and June 2024 and underwent a sinus CT scan as part of their diagnostic workup. A total of 255 CT scans were analyzed. 35.3% of the cases had acute sinusitis, 34.9% had chronic sinusitis, and 29.8% showed no sinusitis. Acute cases were more common in males (39%), whereas chronic cases predominated in females (37.2%). The maxillary sinus was most affected in acute cases, whereas chronic cases frequently involved ethmoid sinus and pan-sinusitis. CT imaging is crucial for diagnosing sinusitis and can help avoid misdiagnosis and prevent over-treatment of non-sinusitis cases. The study highlights sex and age-related differences in prevalence, emphasizing the need for further research on environmental and genetic factors. Also, Future research should focus on longitudinal studies and multicenter studies to better understand disease progression and optimize treatment strategies tailored to specific demographic groups.