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Comparison of the Paranasal Sinus Features of Paediatric Patients with and Without Cleft Palate: A CBCT Study
Hamit Tunç1, Gürkan Ünsal2,3
1Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Paediatric Dentistry, Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University, Burdur, TURKEY.
Insights
Unilateral cleft palate (UCP) in children significantly reduces maxillary and frontal sinus volumes. Further examination of paranasal sinus dimensions is crucial for effective treatment planning in UCP patients.
Area of Science:
- Medical Imaging
- Craniofacial Development
- Paediatric Otolaryngology
Background:
- Unilateral cleft palate (UCP) is a common congenital condition affecting facial development.
- Paranasal sinus development can be influenced by craniofacial anomalies.
- Understanding sinus volume variations in UCP is important for surgical and orthodontic planning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare paranasal sinus volumes in paediatric patients with unilateral cleft palate (UCP) versus healthy controls.
- To assess differences in sinus volumes between the cleft and non-cleft sides in UCP patients.
Main Methods:
- Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans of 80 UCP patients and 80 healthy children were analyzed.
- Paranasal sinus volumes were segmented and measured using ITK-SNAP software.
- Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, Kolmogorov-Smirnov, paired sample t-tests, and student t-tests.
Main Results:
- Maxillary sinus volume was significantly reduced on the cleft side compared to the non-cleft side in UCP patients.
- Mean maxillary and frontal sinus volumes were significantly lower in UCP patients compared to healthy controls.
- Ethmoid and sphenoid sinus volumes showed no significant differences between UCP patients and controls, or between cleft and non-cleft sides.
Conclusions:
- Unilateral cleft palate leads to a significant reduction in maxillary and frontal sinus volumes.
- Detailed assessment of paranasal sinus volumes is recommended for UCP patients.
- This information can aid in developing safer and more effective treatment strategies for UCP.
Objectives:
This study is performed to compare the paranasal sinus volumes in paediatric unilateral cleft palate (UCP) and healthy patients.
Methods:
Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images of 80 patients (40 boys, 40 girls) with UCP and 80 healthy individuals (40 boys, 40 girls) were evaluated. Paranasal sinus volumes were segmented and measured using ITK-SNAP software. Descriptive statistics, Kolmogorov-Smirnov, paired sample t-test and student t-test were performed for statistical analysis.
Results:
The volumes of ethmoid, frontal and sphenoid sinus on the cleft side were not significantly different than the non-cleft side (p>0.05) in UCP patients. Maxillary sinus volume of the cleft side in UCP patients was significantly lower than the non-cleft side (p<0.05). Mean maxillary sinus volume in UCP patients was 11825.23±509.95 mm3 at the cleft side and 13497.85±358.07 mm3 at the non-cleft side. While the mean volumes of ethmoid and sphenoid sinuses of patients with UCP were not significantly different from healthy individuals (p>0.05), the mean volumes of maxillary and frontal sinuses were significantly lower than healthy individuals (p<0.05). The mean maxillary sinus volume in UCP patients was 25323±597.8 mm3 and 26666±874.3 mm3 in the control group. The mean frontal sinus volume in UCP patients was 5633±323.1 mm3 and 5735±315.2 mm3 in the control group.
Conclusions:
UCP caused a significant reduction in maxillary and frontal sinus volumes. The results of the current study show that paranasal sinus volumes in patients with UCP should be examined in more detail to make more risk-free and effective treatment plans.
