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Extensive maxillary sinus pneumatization
Sudhakiran Kalavagunta1, K T Reddy
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Warrington General Hospital, Warrington, England, United Kingdom. sudhakiran7@yahoo.com
Aim:
To determine the incidence of variations of maxillary sinus pneumatization especially when it is extensive and the associated anomalies.
Study Design:
Two hundred consecutive direct coronal paranasal sinus computed tomography (CT) scans were reviewed retrospectively. Extensive maxillary sinus pneumatization (EMSP) was defined as one in which the largest horizontal and/or vertical dimension of the maxillary sinus equalled or exceeded 90% of the corresponding diameter of the orbit. Further subtype I, II & III were defined depending on whether the pneumatization was extensive in one dimension (horizontal or vertical), two dimensions (horizontal & vertical) and by the presence of sphenomaxillary plate, intermaxillary plate or extension into frontal recess.
Results:
EMSP was found in 8%, of these 7% were bilateral and 1% was unilateral. (Subtype I, II and III constituting 1%, 3% & 4% respectively).
Conclusion:
EMSP has been defined as a group and a classification proposed. EMSP will result in an atypical clinical picture, has a role in the pathogenesis of frontal sinusitis in some cases and may predispose injury to the orbit during endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS).