Which imaging modality is most informative for evaluating unilateral nasal disease and planning a biopsy?

• A. CT With Rhinoscopy
• B. Ultrasound
• C. MRI Without Contrast
• D. Plain Skull Radiographs

Answer: (A)

When evaluating unilateral nasal disease and planning a biopsy, you need clear detail of the nasal cavity and sinuses and a way to visualize the lesion directly for a targeted sample. CT provides superb resolution of bone structures and shows the extent of disease within the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses, including any bony destruction or remodeling that guides biopsy planning and surgical access. Paired with rhinoscopy, you get direct visualization of the lesion and can precisely target the biopsy site while correlating what you see on imaging with what you observe endoscopically. Other options fall short: ultrasound can’t adequately assess nasal cavity or sinus bony anatomy; MRI without contrast highlights soft tissue extent but lacks the bone detail crucial for planning the biopsy route; plain skull radiographs miss many lesions and don’t define extent well. Therefore CT with rhinoscopy is the most informative choice for both evaluation and biopsy planning.