Are Variations of Paranasal Sinuses and Infundibular Trace Length Responsible for Development of Maxillary Sinusitis

Abstract

Purpose: To determine whether the lenght and width of ethmoid infundibulum relate to maxillary sinusitis. In addition, evaluation of the relationship of maxillary sinusitis to the type of infundibulum and to anatomical sinonasal variations is also aimed to observe. Materials and methods: Paranasal sinus computerized tomography images of 491 clinically proven rhinosinusitis cases are analyzed retrospectively by two radiologysts. The length is measured by drawing curve traces and width is measured from the narrowest region for 982 ethmoid infundibula in-total. Maxillary sinusitis of the cases is graded according to the Lund and MacKay score. Type, width and length of ethmoid infundibulum and sinonasal anatomical variations are compared for the cases in terms of having with and without maxillary sinusitis. Results: Type and length of ethmoid infundibulum are found not to be risk factors for maxillary sinusitis (p>0.05). Length of EI are similar between score 0 and score 1-2 maxillary sinusitis (p>0.05) but width was much more in patients with having score 1 and 2 maxillary sinusitis compared with those not having sinusitis (score 0) (p<0.05). Maxillary ostial closure with according expansion of ethmoid infundibulum is seen in maxillary sinusitis. Sinusitis risk is increased in presence of ethmoid bulla. The other anatomical variations can not be determined as risk factors for sinusitis. Conclusion: In contrary to general belief, paranasal variations do not constitute risk for maxillary sinusitis apart from ethmoid bulla. Type and trace length of infundibulum are not risk factors for sinusitis. Ethmoid infundibulum is expanded with sinusitis.