Comparison of Sphenoid Sinus Morphology in Bilateral Cleft Lip and Palate and Control Groups: A CBCT Study.

Abstract

Objective: To investigate and compare the morphology of the sphenoid sinus (SS) in patients with bilateral cleft lip and palate (BCLP) and the control group.

Design: A retrospective comparative study.

Setting: Craniofacial rehabilitation institution.

Patients and participants: The study included 100 patients with BCLP (50 men and 50 women) in the preorthognathic period, and 100 control patients who did not have BCLP, were not syndromic and had not undergone orthognathic surgery (50 men and 50 women).

Main outcome measure(s): The morphological type of the SS was classified as conchal, presellar, sellar, and postsellar. It was further categorized into subtypes: lateral, body, anterior, lesser wing, and clival. Finally, the septations of the SS were classified as intersphenoidal, multiple, or absent. The χ² test was used to compare the groups and evaluate categorical variables.

Results: The most common main types in both groups were the sellar type (BCLP group: 44%, control group: 59%) and the postsellar type (BCLP group: 33%, control group: 31%). No statistically significant differences were found between the groups (P > .05). Regarding subtypes, the most common were the lateral subtype (BCLP group: 57%, control group: 59%) and the sphenoid body subtype (BCLP group: 33%, control group: 31%).

Conclusion: The most common SS morphologies in BCLP were the sellar and postsellar types. The importance of this morphology is therefore understood in the context of surgeries in the SS region, such as orthognathic and transsphenoidal surgeries, thus helping to avoid complications during surgery.