Final answer:
Best demonstrate structural damage to the eye from a suspected blowout fracture of the right maxillary sinus, a CT scan is typically employed. It is sensitive to detecting fractures and assessing ocular involvement, taking into account nearby structures such as the ethmoid and sphenoid bones.
Step-by-step explanation:
A patient with a suspected blowout fracture of the right maxillary sinus needs a diagnostic image that will best demonstrate structural damage to the eye. Among the cranial bones, the maxillary bone is closely associated with the eye, forming part of the orbital floor. The paranasal sinuses include not only the maxillary sinuses but also the frontals, ethmoids, and the sphenoid sinus.
Bone fractures in this area can cause infraorbital nerve damage or impinge on eye musculature, leading to diplopia or restricted eye movement. The ethmoid bone and sphenoid bone contribute to the medial wall and the apex of the orbit, respectively, and damage to these can also affect ocular structures. To assess ocular damage, a CT scan is typically used due to its high sensitivity in detecting fractures and evaluating the extent of the injury, including ruling out the involvement of the supraorbital margin or foramen, temporal bone, nasal bone, palatine bone, vomer bone, and even the possibility of a contrecoup fracture affecting the basilar portion of the occipital bone.