The frequency of maxillary sinus pathologic findings in cone-beam computed tomography images of patients candidate for dental implant treatment

Abstract

Background. Maxillary sinus pathologic conditions increase the risk of complications during sinus augmentation surgeries in the posterior maxilla. The present study aimed to determine the frequencies of maxillary sinus pathologic findings on patients’ cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images to receive dental implants. Methods. In this descriptive/cross-sectional study, 140 CBCT images of patients who were candidates to receive dental implants were evaluated for the presence of maxillary sinus pathologic entities during 6 months, were divided into five categories: mucosal thickening of >5 mm, retention cyst, partial or complete opacification of the sinus, polypoidal mucosal thickening, and healthy patients. Age, gender, and dental status were evaluated in terms of relationship with the sinus pathologic findings. Absolute and relative frequencies were used to describe data. The chi-squared test was used to analyze the variables. Statistical significance was set at P<0.05. Results. The frequency of maxillary sinus pathologic entities on CBCT images was 63.5%. The pathologic conditions in descending frequency were as follows: mucosal thickening (31.4%), retention cyst (17.1%), partial or complete opacification of the sinus (9.3%), and polypoidal mucosal thickening (5.7%). The frequency of pathologic findings in the maxillary sinus was higher in the <46-year age group and subjects with partial edentulism; however, the differences were not significant. Conclusion. In the present study, the most frequent maxillary sinus pathologic entity was mucosal thickening. There was no relationship between age, sex, and dentition status and maxillary sinus pathologic findings.

Accidental findings of maxillary sinuses in dental patients on CBCT images. A retrospective study.

“…For instance, a study by Raghav et al 19 201 patients (402 maxillary sinuses) were used. In recent studies, 200 CBCT images (400 maxillary sinuses) were used by Sanaullah et al 13 , and 140 (280 maxillary sinuses) were used by Salari et al 20 Referral reasons were well documented and presented in the present study. It benefits the reader with referral criteria and justification of the localized CBCT examina-tions done in this area.…”

“…There were other studies with the incidence of pathology within the antra being way higher than the present study (around 56-65%). [19][20][21][22][23] The highest incidence of pathological findings of the maxillary sinuses were found in the study conducted by Rege et al 33 (68.2%). Taking each side of the maxillary sinuses separately (Table 2), apart from PT which showed a massive difference between right and left maxillary sinuses (10 on the right side and 4 on the left side), the incidences and percentages of the other categories were very close.…”

The CBCT Retrospective Study on Underwood Septa and Their Related Factors in Maxillary Sinuses—A Proposal of Classification

“…The presence of Underwood septa might be one of the diagnosed situations in the maxillary sinuses, followed by SSS, accumulation of mucus, formation of a retention cyst, swelling of the mucosa of the maxillary sinus floor, lack of good oroantral drainage, changes in the OMC (osteomeatal complex), or poor sinus ventilation. Each of these findings might impact any further dental procedures, sinus surgery, or other surgical approaches planned in the maxillary sinuses [ 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 ]. According to Shahidi et al, the amount of maxillary sinus variations in CBCT are common findings, but only their careful radiological evaluation might influence later good clinical and surgical outcome [ 12 ].…”

“…The Underwood septa (US) can be present in different shapes, sizes, lengths, thicknesses, and locations, while a single septum is the most common one, followed by two septa and rarely more [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 ]. Their occurrence was associated with many possible etiological factors but which were still random in shape and size, although a possible correlation with dental roots and the height of maxillary alveolar bone process is also worth noticing [ 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 ].…”

“…The presence of teeth and complete full dentition or partial/complete edentulism can also impact not only the maxillary bone shape and size but also MS findings in CBCT. Salari et al’s study on 140 CBCT scans evaluated the sinuses for the presence of the most common pathologies, such as the occurrence of healthy pneumatized sinus and the mucosal thickening of >5 mm, retention cyst, partial or complete opacification of the sinus, and polypoidal mucosal thickening [ 21 ]. It seems that also other pathologies within the MS, such as the presence of dental septa, bone septa (Underwood septa), osteomeatal complex patency (OMC), mucocele formation, presence of cyst/dentigerous cysts, CRS (chronic rhinosinusitis), presence of SSS (silent sinus syndrome—the imploding antrum, asymptomatic chronic sinusitis with total or partial sinus opacification and sinus walls asymmetry) or others can be found [ 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ].…”