Mastoiditis??

Hi I am a 40 yr old female that has been having dizziness and headaches since oct of 07, I was told then by and ER Dr that I had a polyp and went to an ENT dr about 2 weeks later he said there was nothing there and it showed on the ct scan. Anyways I have went to this ENT 3 times since then he said there was nothing i finally had another CT scan done Friday and today i get the results, it says Nodular mucosal thickening seen in the ethmoidal sinuses . Retention Cysts versus polyps are also seen in the left maxillary antrum and in some of the ethmoidal sinuses. Also partial opacification of the bilat mastoids is present. So their impression says I have cronic (chronic) sinusitis and mastoiditis.
So my question is could these be causing my headaches and it hurts really bad behind my eyes and above the eyebrows. Also is Mastoiditis rare like I have been reading on the internet? If I have had this infection for that long, that means it could get into my cranial part of my heaed. i feel so bad lately, lost 20 lbs, but i as well lost my mother 3 months ago, which may have something to do with that as well. but other weird symptoms as well.
Thank you for any answers you may have...
Kristi

[Vivek V Gurudutt, MD]

Chronic sinusitis can cause headaches with pressure and pain around the eyes.   In terms of the mastoiditis, it is not common.  Sometimes, if there is fluid in the mastoid air cells (even if there is no infection), it can be read as mastoiditis.  The mastoid air cells are connected to the middle ear space.  If a patient has fluid in the middle ear (from new or previous ear infections or eustacian tube dysfunction, etc)  there will be fluid in the mastoid air cells as well.  There are some forms of mastoiditis that are clinically quiet forms of infection from partially treated middle ear infections.  A ct scan gives very useful information but must be put into context with your history and physical exam.  Definitely discuss the ct scan with your ent.  Best wishes to you and your family.

[gyrlemt]

Hi and thanks for the input on this situation. I did go to the ENT today and took him one of those disks that have the films on it. He said I did not have this, he did see a little grey area that was on my right side but, most of the air cells were black. My next question is why would the radiologist put this if he did not see anything, and none of my other things that I listed above where even addressed by my ENT. It was like he was looking at the wrong films or something. He told me oh all radiologist read this in their reports, I have had 3 ct scans of my sinuses in 10 months and this is the only one that said Mastoiditis. Should I get a second opinion? I did see the air cells they were black but a couple of the air cells closer to the  skull bone  were greyish and cloudy.... Can just this little amount cause problems like this??
Thanks Kristi

[gyrlemt]

Just to get back to you, what I did ws call the director of the xray department he is going to have another Dr go over my report to see if indeed there is some mastoiditis there or what, I told him of my situation and he had no problem with gettting a second read on it. I also was in for Surgery on Friday for my knee and they would not do it, bec ause they were not sure if I had it or not, after filling them in on the details. I had no clue this would affect a knee operation.

Thanks, Kristi

[summerluvr]

I had an MRI that the radiologist said showed mastoiditis. I'm now seeing an ear nose and throat Dr. who says he feels it's insignificant and just fluid in my ear. My hearing test was poor. Went back yestarday and my hearing test is better but I have a perforated ear drum that the ENT missed two weeks ago at the hearing test. He wanted to rush me out the door and I said wait a second, what about my vertigo which was the reason I had the MRI in the first place. He did pause and is now sending me for inner ear tests.  You think with a burst ear drum, vertigo, hearing problems and fluid int he mastoid on MRI there must be something wrong with my ear (obviously) but he seems eager to just brush me off :( help me already.  tired of the spins constontaly and not to mention ear pain and hearing problems.