Maxillary sinus volumetric changes in jet aircraft pilots: A multislice computed tomography pilot study

Area of Science:

• Aerospace Medicine
• Otolaryngology
• Radiology

Background:

• Military jet aircraft pilots undergo unique environmental exposures.
• Understanding physiological changes in aviators is crucial for health and safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate changes in maxillary sinus volume in pilot candidates before and after flight training.
• To compare these changes with a control group.

Main Methods:

• Multislice computed tomography (CT) was used to measure maxillary sinus volumes.
• 15 pilot candidates and 41 non-flying controls were included.

Main Results:

• A statistically significant increase in both left and right maxillary sinus volumes was observed in pilots post-training.
• The pilot group showed a significant increase in total maxillary sinus volume compared to the control group.

Conclusions:

• Maxillary sinus volumes increase after an 8-month aircraft pilot training program.
• Potential contributing factors include gravitational force changes, gas expansion, and oxygen mask pressure.
• This study suggests further research into paranasal sinus alterations in pilots.