Relationship between maxillary sinus mucosal cyst and sinus ostium 2D area in three-dimensional volumetric paranasal...

To investigate the relationship between the maxillary sinus ostium 2D area (SOA) and the development of mucosal cysts of the maxillary sinus (MMC).

Thirty patients (≥ 18 years) with unilateral MMC who underwent paranasal sinus CT (PNsCT) were included in this single-center retrospective study. Non-MMC sinus was used as the control group. Cyst and air volume of the maxillary sinuses, diameter, and 2-dimensional area of the ostium of the patients were calculated in the 3-dimensional volumetric analysis program. Both correlation and linear regression model analyses were performed for the relationship between MMC and SOA.

Thirty patients were included (mean age of 42.30 ± 17.62 years). A total of 15/30 (50%) were male. The mean SOA in patients with MMC (8.91 ± 1.10 mm²) was lower than in patients without MMC (12.94 ± 1.35 mm²), which was statistically significant (p < 0.001). The mean sinus ostium diameter in patients with MMC (2.12 ± 0.71 mm) was higher than in patients without MMC (1.91 ± 0.82 mm), which was statistically insignificant (p = 0.295). There was a statistically significant, good level of negative linear correlation between SOA and total cyst volume (TCV) [correlation coefficient (r) = - 0.680, p < 0.001]). As a result, the regression model consisting of "Age, Sinus air volume, and TCV" variables is a good model and has statistically significant relations with SOA.

In conclusion, small SOAs contribute to the development of MMC. There was a negative correlation between SOA and TCV. In addition, 2D area measurement may be a more accurate method instead of diameter measurement.