Evaluation of the Prevalence of Mucous Retention Pseudocyst and its Correlation with the Associated Risk Factors Using Panoramic Radiography and Cone-Beam Computed Tomography

Mucous retention pseudocyst (MRP) of the maxillary sinus is an incidental finding on radiographs. The radiographs taken for dental purposes provide an opportunity for dentists to recognize asymptomatic maxillary sinus anomalies. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of MRP on panoramic and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) views and to evaluate the associated risk factors.

In this study, 710 panoramic radiographs and 90 CBCT scans were examined with regard to the presence of MRP in the maxillary sinus during 2014-15. The MRP prevalence and some associated risk factors such as age, gender, season, smoking, allergy, asthma, chronic sinusitis, nasal polyp, mucosal thickening, and post-nasal drip (PND) were evaluated.

The frequency of MRP was 2.4% on the 710 evaluated panoramic images and 43.3% on the 90 evaluated CBCT views. The frequency of MRP on the panoramic and CBCT views was higher in males than in females. There was a significant association between smoking and MRP on panoramic images (P=0.02) and CBCT views (P<0.001). There was a significant association between PND and MRP on CBCT views (P=0.02). The highest frequency of MRP was seen in spring (P=0.04) according to panoramic radiographs and in spring and summer (P=0.001) according to CBCT views.

The occurrence of MRP had a significant association with smoking and PND, and the highest frequency of MRP was detected in spring and summer. Also, CBCT scanning detects MRP more accurately than panoramic radiography.