Examination of Anatomic Formations and Their Variations Located in Sinonasal Area by Multidetector Computerized Tomography

Abstract

Purpose This study aims to identify the anatomical structures and variations in the sinonasal region of patients who were admitted to otorhinolaryngology clinic at Selçuk University Medical Faculty Hospital and to compare these findings according to gender and lateralization. Methods Multidetector computerized tomography (MDCT) scans on axial and coronal planes from the archives of 200 patients (113 males, 87 females; mean age 30; age range 4–72) who had not any surgical procedures or trauma history to the sinonasal region were examined. Several variations were identified and these variations were compared in terms of gender and lateralization. Results In this study, the most frequently detected variation was agger nasi cells (73.5%), followed by septal deviation (67.5%), pneumatization of the middle nasal concha (47.5%), frontal sinus septum (43.5%), hypertrophy of the inferior nasal concha (42%), onodi cell (36.5%), haller cell (29.5%), septal spur (29.5%) and sphenoid sinus septum (23%). Conclusion The sinonasal area is one of the most common areas with anatomic variations. Recognition of anatomic variations of the nose and paranasal sinuses helps to preventing complications and achieving better surgical results.