A roentgen-anatomic study of association between persistant inter-frontal Suture with varied presence of frontal sinus

Metopism in adult South Africans and its relationship to frontal sinus size

“…As noted above, Guerram et al (2014), Nikolova and Toneva (2019), and Atalay and Eser (2021) recorded small sinuses to be more frequently encountered in individuals with metopism. Kumar et al (2016) reported a relationship between metopism and sinus aplasia, although none of the aplastic crania in the South African sample exhibited metopism. At the same time, however, a number of studies have observed no relationship between metopism and frontal sinus size and/or aplasia (e.g., Bilgin et al, 2013; Hunt & Everest, 2001; Marciniak & Nizankowski, 1959; Pondé et al, 2008; Sandre et al, 2017).…”

“…At the same time, however, a number of studies have argued that full, or complete metopism can affect the presence and/or size of the frontal sinus (e.g., Rochlin & Rubaschewa, 1934; Torgersen, 1950). Thus, Guerram et al (2014) recorded small frontal sinus size to be more frequently encountered in individuals with metopism, Nikolova and Toneva (2019) described a significant relationship between the presence of a small sinus together with metopism, Atalay and Eser (2021) found metopic individuals to exhibit a 5× higher incidence of sinus hypoplasia, and Kumar et al (2016) reported a relationship between metopism and sinus aplasia. On the other hand, an almost equal number of studies have observed there to be no relationship whatsoever between metopism and frontal sinus size and/or aplasia (e.g., Bilgin et al, 2013; Hunt & Everest, 2001; Marciniak & Nizankowski, 1959; Pondé et al, 2008; Sandre et al, 2017).…”

“…It is rather difficult to reconcile these conflicting results, as there is no consistent methodological difference between the two sets of studies. For example, those that posit a relationship between metopism and sinus size include the use of dried crania and a visual assessment of metopism (e.g., Guerram et al, 2014; Kumar et al, 2016; Nikolova & Toneva, 2019) with frontal sinus size gauged by either flat plane radiographs (Guerram et al, 2014) or CT scanning (Kumar et al, 2016; Nikolova & Toneva, 2019). This group of studies includes those that employed living patients with the assessment of both metopism and sinus size by radiographic means—either through flat plane X‐rays (Rochlin & Rubaschewa, 1934; Torgersen, 1950) or via CT scanning (Atalay & Eser, 2021).…”