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Tests and diagnosis
By Mayo Clinic staffThe cause of headaches can be difficult to determine. The doctor will ask questions about your headaches and do a physical exam. Be sure to mention if you've had a recent cold, if you have allergies and if you smoke. These factors may precipitate or contribute to acute sinusitis.
Your doctor may perform one of these tests to determine if you have sinusitis:
- Nasal endoscopy. Tender sinuses may be one sign of sinusitis. The doctor may use a thin tube with a light (endoscope) to examine your nasal passages.
- Mucus testing. He or she may also test mucus samples from inside your nose for evidence of a bacterial or fungal infection.
- Imaging tests. Examples include CT or MRI scans. CT scans use a computer to create cross-sectional images of your brain and head (including your sinuses) by combining images from an X-ray unit that rotates around your body. With MRIs, a magnetic field and radio waves are used to create cross-sectional images of the structures within your brain.
- Bajwa ZH, et al. Headache symptoms other than migraine. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Dec. 15, 2009.
- Hwang PH, et al. Acute sinusitis and rhinosinusitis in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Dec. 15, 2009.
- Sinus headaches. American Academy of Otolaryngology — Head and Surgery. http://www.entnet.org/HealthInformation/sinusHeadache.cfm. Accessed Dec. 17, 2009.
- Sinus infection (sinusitis). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/getsmart/antibiotic-use/URI/sinus-infection.html. Accessed Dec. 17, 2009.
- Sinusitis. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec08/ch091/ch091g.html?qt=sinus headache&alt=sh. Accessed Dec. 16, 2009.
- Sinus headache. National Headache Foundation. http://www.headaches.org/education/Headache_Topic_Sheets/Sinus_Headache. Accessed Dec. 17, 2009.
- Headache and sinus disease. American Rhinologic Society. http://www.american-rhinologic.org/patientinfo.headache.phtml. Accessed Dec. 17, 2009.
- Swanson JW (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Dec. 23, 2009.
- Schreiber CP, et al. Prevalence of migraine in patients with a history of self-reported or physician-diagnosed "sinus" headache. Archives of Internal Medicine. 2004;164:1769.
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