Interest of medical imaging in the diagnostic orientation of headaches in otorhynolaryngology

The objective of the study was to demonstrate the value of medical imaging in the diagnostic guidance of headaches in otolaryngology. This was a cross-sectional analytical study of a retrospective cohort from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2024, at the CNHU-HKM University ENT-Head and Neck Surgery Clinic. Patients over 15 years of age seen for headaches were included. Headaches of non-ENT origin were excluded. The hospital frequency of ENT headaches was 4.42% (652/14,780) and an incidence of 130.4 cases per year. The mean age was 39.8 years and the sex ratio was 0.36 (175/477). The most represented socio-professional groups were students and healthcare workers. Associated symptoms were present in 87.74% of cases (52.30%) and rhinitis (32.97%). Sinus computed tomography (CT) was by far the most frequently requested examination (85.65%). In medical imaging, the identified etiologies were dominated by rhinosinusitis (68.86%) and nasal polyps (16.40%). The overall concordance between clinical indications and imaging results was 73.78%. The outcome was favorable in patients who underwent imaging (95.97%) compared to those who did not (89.84%). Medical imaging, particularly computed tomography (CT) scans, is an essential tool in determining the etiology of ENT headaches. It allows for the confirmation of diagnostic hypotheses, leading to improved therapeutic management.