Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 4, 2026
Identification of OTX1 and OTX2 As Two Possible Molecular Markers for Sinonasal Carcinomas and Olfactory Neuroblastomas
Published on: February 28, 2019
Prespecified Structured CT and MRI Scores for Sinonasal Inverted Papilloma: A Dual-reader Diagnostic Accuracy Study
Buket Yağcı1, Tansu Pınarbaşılı1, Erdinç Hakan İnan1
1Department of Radiology, Antalya Training and Research Hospital, Antalya, Turkiye (B.Y., T.P., and E.H.I.).
Rationale And Objectives:
To compare structured computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scores for differentiating inverted papilloma (IP) from other benign and malignant causes of unilateral sinonasal opacification.
Materials And Methods:
In this retrospective single-center study, 179 patients with histopathologically confirmed unilateral sinonasal opacification were classified as IP spectrum (n = 72) or non-IP (n = 107). Two blinded readers independently assessed CT (n = 172) and MRI (n = 109; both modalities, n = 102) using prespecified IP scores; Reader 1's final assessment served as the primary analysis. Diagnostic performance was compared using area under the curve (AUC) analysis with paired DeLong testing, and independent predictors were identified with multivariable, Firth-penalized, and parsimonious logistic regression.
Results:
In the paired cohort (n = 102), MRI demonstrated a numerically higher, but not statistically superior, performance than CT for distinguishing IP-spectrum from non-IP lesions (AUC 0.915 vs. 0.869; ΔAUC +0.045; p = 0.076). Combining CT and MRI scores did not improve discrimination beyond MRI alone (combined AUC 0.891; cross-validated AUC 0.883). Convoluted cerebriform pattern and bone destruction were the only independent predictors. MRI demonstrated a significant advantage over CT in differentiating IP from unilateral sinonasal polyps (AUC 0.965 vs. 0.811; q < 0.001), particularly in lesions lacking focal hyperostosis.
Conclusion:
CT and MRI provide complementary rather than interchangeable information in the evaluation of unilateral sinonasal opacification. Although overall diagnostic performance was comparable and the combined assessment offered no incremental benefit over MRI alone, MRI significantly outperformed CT in distinguishing IP from unilateral polyps. These findings support a structured multiparametric imaging approach, particularly in diagnostically challenging cases, and warrant prospective multicenter validation.
