CT Scan and Radiology

PNS CT Scan

Fast & Reliable Reports You Can Trust
Accurate Reports Delivered On Time
Advanced Imaging Technology for Clear Diagnosis
Expert Radiologists Reviewing Every Scan

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₹3,000/*

*Prices may vary by city and chosen centre. Inclusive of radiologist report. No hidden charges.

Fast & Reliable Reports You Can Trust
Accurate Reports Delivered On Time
Advanced Imaging Technology for Clear Diagnosis
Expert Radiologists Reviewing Every Scan

PNS CT Scan — About the Test

A PNS CT Scan (CT of the Paranasal Sinuses) is a detailed cross-sectional imaging investigation of the four pairs of air-filled sinuses — the maxillary, frontal, ethmoid, and sphenoid sinuses — as well as the nasal cavity, nasal septum, and adjacent bony structures. It is the gold standard investigation for chronic sinusitis, nasal polyps, sinus blockage, and pre-surgical planning for functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS). While a PNS X-Ray provides a basic overview, CT is far superior — showing each sinus individually, in multiple planes, with exact detail of mucosal thickening, fluid levels, polyps, and anatomical variations that affect treatment. CT vs PNS X-Ray: A PNS X-Ray is a basic screening tool. A PNS CT is significantly more informative — it is the investigation of choice when symptoms persist despite treatment, when surgery is being considered, or when a complication of sinusitis is suspected. No preparation required. No contrast injection for most PNS CT scans. The scan takes under 5 minutes.

What Happens During a PNS CT Scan? (5–10 Minutes)

Key benefits of this package include:

Step 1 — Preparation: No fasting or preparation required. Remove metal items — earrings, nose piercings, glasses, dental plates if possible.
Step 2 — Positioning: Lie on the CT table. The table slides into the scanner and your head is positioned within the scanner ring. You may be scanned in multiple positions — the coronal plane (lying face-up, head tilted back or prone) is most commonly used for sinus CT as it directly shows sinus anatomy as an ENT surgeon views it during endoscopy.
Step 3 — The scan: The X-ray tube rotates around your head taking thin-slice images of each sinus. The scan is completely painless. You will be asked to remain still and breathe normally throughout — no breath-holding is required.
Step 4 — Done: The scan takes under 5 minutes. Total time in the department is approximately 15–20 minutes. Radiologist report ready within 4 hours, including multiplanar reconstructions (axial, coronal, and sagittal views).

What a PNS CT Scan Can Detect

Sinusitis

Acute sinusitis — mucosal thickening, air-fluid levels within sinus cavities

Chronic sinusitis — extensive mucosal disease, opacification of one or multiple sinuses

Subacute sinusitis — intermediate findings between acute and chronic disease

Fungal sinusitis — hyperdense material within sinuses (often maxillary), may erode bone

Nasal Polyps and Soft Tissue

Nasal polyps — soft tissue masses arising from sinus mucosa, extending into nasal cavity

Antrochoanal polyp — large polyp from maxillary sinus extending into nasopharynx

Sinonasal masses — benign (inverted papilloma) or malignant tumours

Anatomical Variations (Pre-Surgical Planning)

Deviated nasal septum — degree and direction of septal deviation

Concha bullosa — air cell within the middle turbinate

Haller cells (infraorbital ethmoid cells) — encroach on maxillary sinus drainage pathway

Onodi cells — posterior ethmoid cells close to the optic nerve (surgical safety)

Paradoxical middle turbinate

Uncinate process variants — critical for FESS planning

Complications of Sinusitis

Orbital cellulitis and abscess — sinusitis extending to the eye socket

Intracranial extension — epidural or subdural abscess from frontal sinusitis

Osteomyelitis — bone infection adjacent to sinuses

Mucocele — mucus-filled expansion of a blocked sinus cavity, with bone remodelling

Bony Structures

Skull base integrity

Cribriform plate — important for surgical safety (proximity to brain)

Lamina papyracea — paper-thin bone between ethmoid sinus and orbit

FAQs

PNS CT provides detailed imaging of all four pairs of sinuses and the nasal cavity. It is the gold standard for chronic sinusitis diagnosis, nasal polyp assessment, and pre-surgical planning for FESS (sinus surgery). It is used when symptoms persist despite treatment, or when complications of sinusitis are suspected.

No preparation required. No fasting, no contrast injection for standard PNS CT. Just remove metal items from the face and head before the scan.

A PNS X-Ray gives a basic overview of the sinuses but misses subtle mucosal disease and cannot show individual sinus detail well. PNS CT shows every sinus in cross-section, in multiple planes — with far greater sensitivity for mucosal thickening, polyps, anatomical variants, and complications. CT is the investigation of choice for surgical planning and chronic disease.

Yes. PNS CT is essential before Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS). ENT surgeons use coronal CT images as a "road map" of the sinus anatomy — identifying critical structures, polyp extent, and anatomical variations before operating.

Yes. PNS CT clearly shows the degree, direction, and extent of septal deviation — including any associated bony spur. This information is important for surgical planning when septoplasty is being considered.

Under 5 minutes for the scan. Report ready within 4 hours.

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