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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.
Tender sinuses may be one sign of sinusitis. The doctor may use a thin tube with a light (endoscope) to examine your nasal passages. He or she may also test mucus samples from inside your nose for evidence of a bacterial or fungal infection.
Sometimes imaging studies such as CT or MRI scans are recommended as well. CT scans use a computer to create cross-sectional images (like slices) 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.
