OBJECTIVES. We investigated peripheric and central olfactory pathways on MRI in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patients and the relationship between olfactory measurements of COPD patients and thorax CT images of emphysema classification in them. MATERIAL AND METHODS. In this retrospective study, cranial MRI of 42 adult patients with COPD and 42 healthy adults without COPD were included. In both groups, peripheral (olfactory bulb (OB) volume and olfactory sulcus (OS) depth) and central olfactory areas (insular gyrus and corpus amygdala areas) were evaluated. We classified thorax CT findings according to emphysema by size as 1 to 4. RESULTS. In the present study, left OB volume of the COPD group was significantly lower than that in the control group (p<0.05). On the right side, there were no significant differences between OB volumes of the COPD and control groups. Although right OB volume values were found to decrease proportionally, they were not found to be statistically significant. Also, insular gyrus and corpus amygdala areas of the COPD group were significantly lower than those in the control group, bilaterally (p<0.05). OS depths of the COPD group were significantly higher than those in the control group, bilaterally (p<0.05). In males, the right OB volume values were higher than those in females (p<0.05). CONCLUSION. In COPD patients, left OB volumes decrease and OS depths increase bilaterally, and central areas decrease bilaterally, regardless of the thoracic emphysema classification. It may be related to hypoxemia that causes airway inflammation; inflammatory mediators may be harmful to the olfactory neuroepithelium.

Objectives The authors examined the structural differences in the paranasal sinus region at sphenoid sinus in the pediatric population. Methods Paranasal sinus computed tomography (PNSCT) images of 86 pediatric subjects (30 males, 56 females) were included. In 13 to 15 years of age group (n=34) and ≥16 years of age group (n=52), sphenoid sinus pneumatization (SSP), optic canal and carotid canal classifications and dehiscence evaluation were performed. Results In both sexes, type 1 and type 2 SS pneumatization were observed more frequently on both the right and left sides. On the right side, type 2> type 1; on the left side type 1> type 2 optic canals were detected in both gender. Type 3 optic canals were detected in 8.8 to 14.7% of the 13 to 15 years of age group; and 11.5 to 17.3% of ≥16 years of age group. Type 4 optic canals were detected in 2.9% of the 13 to 15 years of age group and 1.9% of the ≥16 years of age group bilaterally. Optic canal dehiscence was detected in 26.5% of the 13 to 15 years of age group and 17.3% of the ≥16 years of age group. Type 1 and type 2 carotid canals are most common in children, the percentages for type 3 carotid canals were 1.8 to 3.6% in children. Conclusion In pneumatized SS, optic canal classifications got increased values which showed protrusion into the sphenoid sinus wall. Therefore, in children, the surgeons must be very careful for optic canal being nearer to the sphenoid sinus walls.