Sinus MRI

The paranasal sinuses are air-filled spaces in the facial bones around the nose. There are two maxillary sinuses, two frontal sinuses, the ethmoid cells and the sphenoid sinus. Each one drains into the nose through a narrow opening, and this is where inflammation usually starts. MRI shows the lining, whatever fills the sinuses and the soft tissue around them. There is no X-ray exposure. At Oberig Clinic we scan on a 1.5 Tesla machine, and radiologists of the Diagnostic Department read the images.

MRI, CT or X-ray: which one?

For a simple sinus infection, an ENT exam and a sinus X-ray are usually enough. CT is the choice when the surgeon needs fine detail of bone, thin walls and drainage pathways, for example before surgery. MRI answers a different question. It is about soft tissue.

MRI tells a swollen lining from a cyst, fluid from a polyp, and a fungal infection from ordinary inflammation. It shows whether the process has spread beyond the sinus into the eye socket or toward the lining of the brain. No radiation is a big plus when the sinuses need checking several times a year. That makes it a good fit for children and for anyone who needs repeat scans.

When it is ordered

Most referrals come from an ENT doctor. Dentists, maxillofacial surgeons, allergists and neurologists order it too. Typical reasons:

• chronic sinusitis that keeps coming back after treatment
• nasal polyps, or a blocked nose on one side that does not clear
• a suspected cyst, fungal infection or mass in a sinus
• bloody discharge from one side of the nose
• swollen eyelids, eye pain or worse vision during sinusitis
• headaches with no cause found by other tests
• follow-up after sinus surgery

One-sided symptoms deserve extra attention. If only one side of the nose stays blocked and the discharge from it is sometimes bloody, do not put off the test. The cause is benign in most cases, but a growth has to be ruled out early, and MRI gives the most information at that stage.

What the scan covers

The scan covers every sinus on both sides plus the nasal cavity: the nasal passages, turbinates and septum. The radiologist reports the thickness of the lining, fluid levels, cysts and polyps with sizes, and whether the natural sinus openings are clear. The images also show the nasopharynx, the eye sockets and the front of the skull.

Nobody scans just the maxillary sinuses. Inflammation rarely stays in one sinus, so the protocol covers the whole area and the report describes each sinus on its own. The price stays the same, whether one sinus is involved or all of them, and you do not have to pick which ones to scan.

What it can find

The most common findings are a thick lining and fluid in the sinuses. These point to acute or chronic sinusitis. Cysts of the maxillary sinuses come second. Most are small, cause no symptoms and turn up by chance. They need treatment only if they block drainage or grow. Your ENT doctor decides, and a repeat scan in a year is often all it takes to make sure nothing has changed.

Polyps look like soft growths of the lining that fill the passages and sinuses. A fungal infection gives a typical dark signal, and MRI helps keep it from being mistaken for a tumor. Less often the scan finds a benign growth such as an inverted papilloma, or a malignant one. Then the radiologist reports whether it has spread beyond the sinus, and that shapes the treatment plan. A normal scan is an answer too. The search for the cause of the headache or blocked nose then moves elsewhere.

Preparation and what to expect

No special preparation. Eat, drink and use your prescribed nose drops as usual. Before the scan you take off metal items and removable dentures. You lie on your back, and your head rests in a coil. The scanner is loud, so you get earplugs or headphones. The scan takes 20-30 minutes.

Bring your referral, the ENT report and any earlier images: X-ray, CT or MRI. A comparison shows whether the swelling went down after treatment and whether a cyst or polyp is growing. Afraid of tight spaces? Tell us when you book. The radiographer can hear you the whole time and can stop the scan.

The doctor adds gadolinium contrast when a mass or spread of inflammation beyond the sinuses needs a closer look. You need a recent creatinine test for that. MRI is not safe with a pacemaker, some implants or metal fragments in the body, so mention them when you book.

FAQ

Can I have a brain scan at the same visit?

Yes. These are two separate tests, each billed on its own line. The doctor orders a brain MRI if the sinuses alone do not explain your symptoms.

Can I have the scan with a cold?

Yes. But during a cold almost everyone has swelling in the sinuses. A planned scan is better done 2-3 weeks after you recover. Then it shows chronic changes, not temporary ones. If the doctor needs an answer right away, for example because of eye symptoms, the scan is done without waiting.

Is MRI safe for a child?

Yes. No radiation. The child has to lie still for 20-30 minutes. Tell them beforehand that the machine is loud but not scary.

Does it hurt? Is it harmful?

No. The scan is painless. The magnetic field does not irradiate or damage tissue. The noise is the only unpleasant part.

How often can it be repeated?

There is no limit, since there is no radiation. A follow-up is usually done 3-6 months after treatment, or once a year if the doctor is watching a cyst or polyps.

How much is it with contrast?

With contrast you pay two lines of the price list, UAH 6,440 in total. Without contrast it is UAH 3,695.

Price at Oberig Clinic

The price covers the whole area: the sinuses and the nasal cavity. It does not change with the number of affected sinuses. The doctor decides on contrast, and it is paid separately.

Test	Price
Sinuses and nasal cavity, 1.5 Tesla scanner	UAH 3,695
Contrast enhancement (1.5 Tesla)	UAH 2,745

If the doctor also wants the nasopharynx and the skull base, the price list has a separate, wider scan: skull base, nasopharynx and oropharynx on the 1.5 Tesla scanner, UAH 4,530. Prices are from the clinic price list as of 27.10.2026 and may change. Please check the current price with our call center.

Why choose Oberig Clinic

• Two MRI scanners (1.5 and 3 Tesla), a Siemens reference center, protocols of the American College of Radiology.
• Experienced radiologists, led by the Head of the Diagnostic Department Taras Matsiievskyi.
• ENT doctors with endoscopy, an allergist, X-ray and CT in one clinic.
• Report within 24 hours.

Address: Kyiv, 3 Zoolohichna St., buildings "G" and "V". Book online at https://my.oberig.ua/ua/appointment/ or call +38 044 521 30 03.