Incidental maxillary sinus findings on cranial computerized tomographic scan in a tropical setting

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Medical Imaging
• Otolaryngology

Background:

• Maxillary sinus abnormalities are occasionally identified during routine head CT scans.
• These findings are often incidental and noted in patients scanned for unrelated reasons.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence and types of incidental maxillary sinus pathologies detected on CT scans.
• To assess the significance of these findings in patients not presenting with sinus-related symptoms.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective review of 121 head CT scans performed between January and May 2015 at Jos University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria.
• Exclusion criteria included scans indicated for trauma or sinus disease.
• Patient demographics, scan indications, and maxillary sinus findings were analyzed.

Main Results:

• Out of 121 scans, 28 (23.2%) revealed maxillary sinus pathology.
• The most common findings were mucosal thickening (14.9%) and polypoid masses (8.3%).
• No statistical correlation was found between patient weight and sinus findings.

Conclusions:

• Incidental maxillary sinus pathologies are not rare on cranial CT scans.
• Radiologists need to be vigilant in identifying and reporting these findings for comprehensive patient management.
• Appropriate interpretation of incidental sinus findings contributes to optimal patient care.