u/Shlomo012

This is my new CT scan report.. Do I need a surgery?

Impression
IMPRESSION: Paranasal sinus disease as described.
release

Narrative:
EXAMINATION: CT SINUSES WITHOUT

HISTORY: chronic sinusitis

TECHNIQUE: CT examination was performed of the sinuses without intravenous contrast. Dose reduction techniques were utilized for this examination including adjustment of the mA and/or kV according to the patient's size (BMI).

FINDINGS:
MAXILLARY SINUSES: Trace-mild right and trace left mucoperiosteal thickening. Opacified bilateral anterior. ETHMOID SINUSES: Opacified left side ethmoid air cells superimposed upon overall moderate mucoperiosteal thickening.
SPHENOID SINUSES: Trace bilateral mucoperiosteal thickening. Opacified bilateral ethmoidal recesses.
FRONTAL SINUSES: Overall, mild bilateral frontal sinus mucoperiosteal thickening with completely opacified bilateral frontoethmoidal recesses.
NASAL FOSSA: Leftward nasal septal deviation with associated spurring.
OTHER: Negative.

EXPOSURE:
This patient received a total of 1 exposure event(s) during this CT examination. The CTDIvol and DLP radiation dose values for each exposure are:
Exposure: 1; Series: 3; Anatomy: Head;
Phantom: 16 cm; CTDIvol: 11; DLP: 205

The dose indicators for CT are the volume Computed Tomography (CT) Dose Index (CTDIvol) and the Dose Length Product (DLP, and are measured in units of mGy and mGy-cm, respectively. These indicators are not patient dose, but values generated from the CT scanner acquisition factors. The report includes radiation exposure data for exposures received during this examination. If multiple reports are produced from this examination, the exposure data is duplicated in each report. The exposure data reported is indicative, but not determinative, of the radiation dose received by this patient.

It’s really hard to decide whether to have the surgery. I keep asking myself: What if my septum shifts back afterward? What if I develop a septal perforation or empty nose syndrome? What if my nose becomes worse than it was before?
It feels like a gamble, and I hope I can find a way to make the right decision.

I’m scheduled to do a full in-lab sleep study, and the sleep center contacted me asking if I want to participate in a research study.

They said the study compares how patients feel they slept with the actual brain wave measurements from their sleep study. I would complete a 12-item questionnaire the morning after, and they said:
“You will also be giving us permission to perform a computerized analysis of your sleep EEG (brain wave activity).”

Has anyone participated in something similar?
I’m mainly wondering about privacy. Is there any risk with allowing researchers to analyze or keep your raw EEG/brain wave data? Can EEG data reveal anything personal beyond sleep stages, or potentially be used for other purposes in the future?

I’m not really worried about the questionnaire. I’m mostly concerned about what happens to the EEG data, whether it’s de-identified, how long it’s stored, and whether it could be shared with other researchers or companies.

Would you personally consider this safe to participate in? Anything specific I should ask them before agreeing?

I’m not sure why I should go through surgery if I’ll still have to depend on nasal sprays afterward.

Right now, nasal sprays and allergy pills make me feel better, but I’m tired of having to depend on them. If I stop using them, I get a runny nose and a stuffy nose again.

I originally thought surgery would help me get to the point where I wouldn’t need these medications anymore. But then I see people saying they still have to use nasal sprays even after surgery.

So what’s the point of taking the risks of surgery if I’m still going to depend on sprays afterward? Did surgery actually reduce your need for medications, or are you still using them regularly?