Computed tomography of the facial sinuses and the nasal cavities
Sinus CT Scan (Blondeau) in Casablanca
The sinuses are air-filled cavities hollowed out in the bones of the face: under the eyes, in the forehead, between the eye sockets and at the back of the nose. A sinus CT scan studies them in thin slices using X-rays, most often without injection. In Morocco, it is commonly called a “Blondeau scanner”, after a classic X-ray of the sinuses, the Blondeau view, which is in fact a different exam. The CT scan helps investigate sinusitis that lasts or keeps coming back, polyps or a blocked nose, and helps prepare for surgery.
Duration, report and equipment
Duration
The time on the table is generally less than 5 minutes.
Report turnaround
Report within 24 hours. In an emergency, during opening hours, the report is handed over immediately.
Equipment
GE Revolution
When is this exam needed?
- Sinusitis that persists despite treatment or comes back several times a year.
- Permanently blocked nose or loss of the sense of smell, which may suggest polyps.
- Assessment before sinus surgery performed through the natural passages of the nose.
- Sinusitis on one side only, sometimes linked to an upper tooth.
- Swelling around the eye or another complication of acute sinusitis, according to the doctor's opinion.
How the exam is done
Before you are positioned, you remove glasses, earrings, hair clips and removable dentures. The radiographer usually has you lie on your back, with your head supported in a foam holder.
The table then moves slowly into the ring of the machine. The image acquisition takes only a few seconds: stay still, without swallowing or sniffing. You hear a slight rotating noise, without feeling anything. The computer then reconstructs front and side views of the sinuses from this single acquisition, without you having to be repositioned. Without injection, you can return to your activities as soon as the exam is over.
Preparation
- Blow your nose well just before the exam: secretions left in the nose make the images harder to read.
- If you have a cold or a sinusitis flare-up, ask your doctor whether the appointment should be postponed.
- Keep taking your usual treatments, including nasal sprays, unless your doctor advises otherwise.
Fasting
No fasting is needed, even if an injection is planned. Drink normally.
Contrast injection
The air in the sinuses and the bone are very easy to tell apart without contrast agent. An injection of iodinated contrast agent into a vein in the arm is reserved for specific cases, such as a complication near the eye or a mass to be characterized.
Contraindications and precautions
- Previous reaction to an iodinated contrast agent: tell us when you book; a preparation or another exam may be offered.
- Diabetes treated with metformin, or kidney disease: please tell us. Depending on your kidney function, the radiologist will tell you whether metformin should be paused after the injection. Bring a recent creatinine test if you are asked to.
- Thyroid disease: mention it if an injection is planned.
- Current or possible pregnancy: you must tell us before the exam. A CT scan uses X-rays: it is performed during pregnancy only if it is essential.
- Breastfeeding: please tell us. It is generally not necessary to stop breastfeeding after an iodinated contrast injection.
- Difficulty lying still with your head supported: tell us so that the positioning can be adapted.
Documents to bring
- Prescription from the ENT doctor, your regular doctor or your dentist
- Previous CT scans or X-rays of the sinuses, with their reports
- Report of an ENT consultation or a nasal endoscopy, if you have one
- List of your medications, including nasal sprays
- Insurance or mutual insurance fund card
Price and insurance coverage
The price of a sinus CT scan depends on an iodine injection, which is reserved for specific cases, such as a complication near the eye or a mass to be characterized.
The center accepts coverage from insurance companies and the main mutual insurance funds. You submit the coverage request to your insurer or fund yourself. For AtlantaSanad and Sanlam, the center takes care of it.
No prices are shown on this site: Kenza gives you the exact price on WhatsApp, along with the coverage procedure for your situation.
Frequently asked questions
Is a Blondeau scanner the same as a Blondeau X-ray?
No. The Blondeau view X-ray is a single image, taken from the front, with the chin resting against the plate: it gives a flat view, mainly of the maxillary sinuses. The “Blondeau scanner”, a common name in Morocco, is a CT scan of the sinuses in thin slices. If you have any doubt about your prescription, ask your doctor or call the center.
Why is a CT scan often preferred to an X-ray for the sinuses?
On an X-ray, the structures overlap on the same image. The CT scan separates each cavity and shows the small channels through which the sinuses drain into the nose, as well as the very thin bone around them. This precision helps the ENT doctor choose a treatment or prepare for surgery.
Can a CT scan show a dental cause of sinusitis?
The roots of the upper teeth are very close to the floor of the maxillary sinuses. The CT scan can show an infection around a root or a fragment of dental material in the sinus. If a dental cause is suspected, your doctor may refer you to a dentist, sometimes with a cone beam CT in addition.
What X-ray dose do you receive?
The natural contrast between air, bone and the lining of the sinuses allows low-dose settings. The exposed area is limited to the sinuses and the nasal cavities, and the dose remains adapted to the question asked. Bring your previous CT scans to avoid repeating an unnecessary exam.
Sinus CT Scan (Blondeau) in Casablanca: how much does it cost?
The price of a sinus CT scan depends on an iodine injection, which is reserved for specific cases, such as a complication near the eye or a mass to be characterized. The center accepts coverage from insurance companies and the main mutual insurance funds. No prices are shown on this site: Kenza gives you the exact price on WhatsApp, along with the coverage procedure for your situation.