PREVALENCE OF HALLER�S CELLS USING COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY IN NAMAKKAL DISTRICT � A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY

Aim: Haller’s cells are developmental variants of anterior ethmoidal sinus which are also known as infraorbital ethmoidal cells or orbito ethmoidal cells or maxilla ethmoidal cells. These anatomic variants of sinonasal regions pneumatize inferiorly and medial to the orbital floor and towards the inferior of maxillary sinus. Hence, the present study was to determine the prevalence of Haller's cells using CT PNS images. Objectives: The purpose of the study is to determine the prevalence of Haller’s cells according to age and gender, to evaluate the relationship between Haller’s cells and maxillary sinusitis and to correlate between Haller’s cells and ipsilateral orbital floor dehiscence. Methods: CT PNS images of 60 patients within the age group of 16-75 years were retrieved, screened by a radiologist and analyzed. The data collected were subjected to statistical analysis analyzed with statistical software package, SPSS version 16.0. and p value < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: The prevalence of Haller's cells in the present study was found to be 48%. There was no statistically significant association between the presence of Haller cells with respect to age and gender. There was a significant association between Haller cells with maxillary sinusitis and orbital floor dehiscence. Conclusion: This study has attempted to find the prevalence of Haller’s cells which will be helpful for dentists in specifying the differential diagnosis for Oro facial pain and maxillary sinusitis.