SUMMARYAnterior spread of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) may infiltrate the maxillary sinus. In a prospective study of 114 patients comparing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) in the staging of NPC, 10 (9%) patients were noted to have tumour infiltration of the maxillary sinuses. All of the patients except one had associated infiltration of the sphenoidal sinuses indicating advanced local spread. Computed tomography was excellent in outlining the extent of bony erosion and associated soft tissue mass within the antra. T1‐weighted images could not demonstrate bony erosions directly although soft tissue extension into the sinuses could be clearly visualized. Both CT and MRI showed good demarcation between tumour and mucosal thickening within the maxillary sinus. Although MRI demonstrated soft tissue involvement more elegantly than CT, it did not appear to offer significantly more information that may affect clinical managemen