• Opeyemi O Daramola, Alcina K Lidder, Ramiza Ramli, Rakesh K Chandra, Stephanie Shintani-Smith, David B Conley, Robert C Kern, and Bruce K Tan.
• Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Northwestern University-Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.
• Laryngoscope. 2015 Apr 1; 125 (4): 791-5.

Objectives/HypothesisThe objective of this study was to report patients' knowledge and comfort level with computed tomography (CT) imaging for sinus disease and evaluate patient willingness to undergo empiric medical therapy (EMT) versus CT-directed therapy (CTDT).Study DesignProspective survey study.MethodsA 22-item survey was administered to patients with nasal/sinus symptoms in a tertiary care rhinology clinic. Questions elicited patient demographics, imaging history, and knowledge/comfort regarding imaging-related radiation exposure. Patients were presented with the theoretical choice of EMT versus CTDT, given the expected positive predictive value, in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) management.ResultsTwo hundred patients (52% female, age range 18-83 years) participated. Of these, 85% had symptoms for over 3 months. Only 91 patients (45.5%) were aware that CT imaging involved radiation exposure. Prior CT experience and past sinus surgery (P < .05), but not sex or education level, were associated with increased comfort with CT imaging. Most patients (78%) preferred CTDT over EMT. If a CT sinus was recommended, 77 patients (38.5%) had concerns, of which 26% identified radiation exposure as the leading concern. The majority (70%) were unsure about the relative radiation dose of a conventional CT.ConclusionsPatients with CRS symptoms prefer CTDT over EMT if a diagnosis cannot be established definitively using exam findings. Although most patients deferred to the physician regarding the decision to utilize CT imaging, there is low awareness of CT-related radiation exposure, and a significant minority of patients have radiation-related concerns with regard to medical imaging for nasal and sinus symptoms.© 2014 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.

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