Relationships Between Radiomorphometric Parameters of the Maxillary Sinus and Development of Sinusitis: A Cone Beam...

The presence of maxillary sinusitis can complicate dental procedures. This study aimed to explore the relationship between maxillary sinus radiomorphometric factors, observed in cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images, and inflammatory sinus diseases. In this cross-sectional study, CBCT images from patients referred to a private radiology center between January 2018-January 2020 were analyzed. Sinuses were categorized as healthy or pathologic. Sinus pathologies were further classified into subgroups; mucosal thickening, retention cyst, partial opacification, complete opacification and air-fluid level. Radiomorphometric parameters, including ostium height, drainage length, ostium opening size, and drainage angle, were measured in the coronal plane. A p value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. A total of 433 maxillary sinuses from 258 patients were examined. Height of the ostium and drainage path length in the groups with various sinus pathologies was significantly higher than in healthy sinuses (p < 0.05 for each subgroup) except for air-fluid level (p = 0.334 and p = 0.520, respectively). Drainage path length was significantly longer in all patient groups. Maxillary ostium openings were significantly smaller in retention cyst and partial opacification subgroups, compared to healthy patients (p = 0.000 and p = 0.006, respectively) except for mucosal thickening or air-fluid levels conditions (p = 0.094 and p = 0.62). Drainage angle did not significantly differ. This study reveals that longer drainage length is associated with a higher risk of inflammatory sinus diseases, with increased severity. Smaller ostium openings are linked to retention cysts and partial opacification, while higher ostium locations increase the likelihood of sinus inflammation and disease severity.