Sinonasal anatomy

Recent advances in paranasal sinus imaging have been driven by the development of functional endoscopic sinus surgery. The goal of most sinus imaging is to provide a surgical road map delineating the anatomy, defining the obstructing lesions, and noting anatomic variations that may predispose to operative complications. We review the embryology and development of the nose and paranasal sinuses; review the radiographic anatomy of the adult sinuses and their drainage pathways; and point out variations in the normal anatomic pattern, concentrating on those variations that are significant for the functional endoscopic sinus surgeon.