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Incidental Paranasal Sinus Findings on Computed Tomography Images of Pediatric Patients: A Cross-sectional Prevalence
Priyanka Talwade1, Prasannasrinivas S Deshpande2, Shailesh Pene3
1Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, JSS Dental College & Hospital, JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research, Mysuru, Karnataka, India.
Insights
Incidental paranasal sinus pathologies are common in children, affecting 31% of those undergoing CT scans. Early detection is crucial for managing related health issues in pediatric patients.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Pediatric Imaging
- Otolaryngology
Background:
- Incidental findings on medical imaging are increasingly recognized.
- Paranasal sinus pathologies can affect children's health, impacting respiratory and sleep patterns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of incidental paranasal sinus pathologies in pediatric patients.
- To analyze the types and distribution of these pathologies in children.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective review of 232 pediatric computed tomography (CT) scans.
- Evaluation of paranasal sinuses for pathologies across age groups (0-13 years).
- Descriptive statistics and Fisher's exact test for data analysis.
Main Results:
- 72 out of 232 (31.03%) pediatric patients had incidental sinus pathologies.
- Multiple sinus pathologies were observed in 36 subjects; 28 had single sinus involvement.
- Four subjects exhibited both multiple pathologies and absent frontal sinus development.
Conclusions:
- Paranasal sinus pathologies are prevalent in asymptomatic children, with an incidence comparable to adults.
- Early identification aids in diagnosing orofacial pain and managing respiratory issues like sleep apnea.
Objectives:
The study was conducted to assess the prevalence of incidental paranasal sinus pathologies in children on computed tomography (CT) scans.
Materials And Methods:
A nonrandomized retrospective study was done on CT scans of 232 pediatric patients taken in the past 6 months duration. These scans were evaluated in different age groups from 0-13 years who had visited or were admitted to the hospital for various other head and neck-related problems. Each scan was examined for incidental pathologic findings in all the paranasal sinuses. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Fisher's exact test to determine non-random associations between variables.
Results:
A total of 232 subjects were examined, amongst which 72 (31.03%) had incidental sinus pathologies. Multiple sinus pathologies were found in 36 subjects, 28 had single sinus involvement, and four showed no development of frontal sinus at the age of 11 years. Four subjects had pathology in multiple sinuses as well as no development of frontal sinus at the age of 6-7 years age range.
Conclusion:
Sinus pathologies are not unusual in the asymptomatic children population, and the incidence is almost equivalent to that of the adult population. Early identification can aid in diagnosing orofacial pain of unknown origin and also if children are susceptible to upper respiratory tract infections and their secondary effects like sleep apnea, mouth breathers, etc.
How To Cite This Article:
Talwade P, Deshpande PS, Pene S, et al. Incidental Paranasal Sinus Findings on Computed Tomography Images of Pediatric Patients: A Cross-sectional Prevalence Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2023;16(2):292-294.
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