Gender and Age Impact on Anatomical Variations of Paranasal Sinuses

Abstract

BACKGROUND Computerized Tomography (CT) scan plays a very important role in decision making before planning any surgical intervention on paranasal sinuses and is also the modality of choice during management and post-surgical follow-ups. Knowledge of different morphologies of paranasal sinuses is an important prerequisite for surgical decision making. This study was done to describe the impact of gender and age on anatomical and morphological presentations of paranasal sinuses using CT in the North Indian Population. METHODS A cross-sectional type of descriptive study was conducted in the Department of Anatomy in collaboration with the Department of Radiodiagnosis of M. L. N. Medical College and Kriti Scanning and Research Centre, Allahabad (Prayagraj) Uttar Pradesh, to describe various morphological presentations of paranasal sinuses. Based on the findings, the gender and age group variations of paranasal sinuses were evaluated and discussed along with the types of the frontal air cells and concha bullosa. RESULTS Overall 120 subjects were analysed based on their CT-scan findings (72 males and 48 females). The frequencies of major sinus variations were observed as Onodi cells in 19.2 %, Concha bullosa in 47.5 %, Frontal air cells in 25 %, Maxillary sinus septation in 7.5 % and Supraorbital cells in 15 % of the study population. CONCLUSIONS Anatomical variations of paranasal sinuses are very common. These variations must be identified by the radiologists in preoperative computerised tomography evaluation to reduce the risk of intraoperative complications. CT scan provides a virtual roadmap to the surgeon and improves the success of management strategies. KEY WORDS Anatomical Variations, Paranasal Sinuses, Concha Bullosa, Onodi Cell