Radiological findings in the maxillary sinuses of symptomless young men

The maxillary sinuses were examined radiologically by occipitomental projection (Waters' view) in 404 conscripts without any symptoms of sinusitis. Abnormalities were found in 188 (23.3%) of all 808 sinuses, the most common being mucosal thickening of > 6 mm (12.3% of the sinuses), cysts or polyps (7.2%), and completely opacified sinus (3.3%). Normal x-ray findings were more common in the conscripts examined during the summer months and mucosal thickening was more frequently encountered in winter than in summer. Nasal bacteria were studied in 100 cases. Findings of normal bacterial flora and of pathogenic bacteria were equally frequent among subjects with normal sinus x-ray (score 0 and 1) and subjects with severe abnormalities (scores 3-6), but mucosal cysts (score 2) was more often combined with pathogens in the nose. Mucosal thickening was more often observed in non-allergic than in allergic persons; thus allergy did not seem to increase radiological abnormalities. Of young men engaged in outdoor activities, about one fifth seem to have significant chronic mucous membrane abnormalities in the maxillary antra without clinical symptoms. In 1-2% of cases secretion is detected in the maxillary sinus indicating a subclinical sinusitis.