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Abstract
In review of 1544 patients with both head computed tomography (CT) examinations and
skull radiographs, 150 patients were found to have a history of acute head trauma.
Twenty-nine of these patients had sphenoid sinus effusions. Ninety-three percent (
) of those cases had abnormal CT examinations, as compared with 48% (
) of cases without sphenoid effusions. Of the patients with sphenoid effusions, 31%
(
) had intracerebral hematomas, 24% (
) had extracerebral hematomas, 13% (
) had pneumocephalus, and 13% (
) had cerebral edema. We conclude that the presence of posttraumatic sphenoid sinus
effusion on the skull radiograph is a sensitive sign for intracranial damage and serves
as an emergent indication for head CT.






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References
- La signification d'un niveau liguide dans le sinus sphenoidal apres un traumatisme cranien.J Can Assoc Radiol. 1961; 12: 113-116
- Principles of X-Ray Diagnosis of the Skull.Butterworth, London1965
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- Radiology of the Ear, Nose and Throat.Saunders, Philadelphia1982
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© 1984 Published by Elsevier Inc.