Paranasal sinus pathoses on cone beam computed tomography

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Dentomaxillofacial Radiology
• Imaging Science

Background:

• Paranasal sinus pathoses are common conditions affecting the sinonasal complex.
• Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) is increasingly utilized in dentomaxillofacial radiology.
• Evaluating the prevalence and patterns of paranasal sinus pathoses on CBCT is crucial for diagnosis and management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence and types of paranasal sinus pathoses detected on cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans.
• To analyze the distribution of these pathoses across different paranasal sinuses in an adult population.
• To identify potential gender-based differences in the occurrence of sinus pathoses.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 353 consecutive CBCT scans from a dentomaxillofacial radiology department.
• Evaluation by three observers to identify and categorize paranasal sinus pathoses.
• Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were employed to analyze the prevalence of categorical parameters.

Main Results:

• The study included adults aged 18-85 years (mean 41.27).
• Males exhibited a significantly higher prevalence (53.5%) of sinus pathoses compared to females (46.5%) (p=0.02).
• Maxillary sinuses were most commonly affected (57.1%), followed by ethmoid (53.7%), frontal (22.6%), and sphenoid sinuses (15.8%). Mucosal thickening (51.7%) was the predominant abnormality, followed by hypoplasia (17.5%) and sinusitis (17.3%).

Conclusions:

• Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) is a valuable imaging modality for evaluating paranasal sinus pathology.
• Dantomaxillofacial radiologists must meticulously examine the entire CBCT volume to detect all paranasal sinus pathoses.
• Comprehensive assessment of CBCT scans ensures accurate diagnosis and appropriate patient care for sinonasal conditions.