[Radiological changes in the nasal and paranasal cavities of patients having undergone laryngectomy]

A greater incidence of nasal sinus lesions is revealed in patients operated for laryngectomy than in healthy subjects. The radiographs of the paranasal sinuses of 49 patients laryngectomized for laryngeal cancer and 71 smokers, over 40, were compared. Thirty-six (73.5%) of the operated patients showed a reduction in the lucency of the sinuses (opacities, sinusitis, mucocele) and 21 (42.9%) inferior concha hypertrophy. In the control group 23 (32.4%) and 12 (16.9%) cases had the same lesions. Chi2 statistical analysis was performed on both groups. The results show a significant increase in lesions of the nasal sinuses in the group of operated patients. The reduction in the air flow through the nose and the sinus cavities during breathing seems to be the pathogenic mechanism responsible for such findings.