The Analysis of Computed Tomography of Paranasal Sinuses in Nasal Septal Deviation.

OBJECTIVES: Anatomic variations of paranasal sinuses are frequent among population that should be analyzed and interpreted accurately. The purpose of this study is to analyze anatomical variants and their relationships of paranasal sinuses in patients with nasal septal deviation undergoing septoplasty.

METHODS: A total number of 150 patients (74 males, 76 females) with nasal septal deviation undergoing septal surgery were included in this retrospective study. The authors analyzed the direction and the angle of the nasal septal deviation, variations of the nasal turbinates, ethmoidal air cells, paranasal sinus pneumatization, accessory pneumatization of the paranasal complex and sphenoid sinus-related structures and the Keros, optic nerve and Vidian canal classification, and relationships between these structures in the paranasal computed tomography of the patients.

RESULTS: The incidence of concha bullosa, Onodi cell, and anterior clinoid pneumatization were higher in patients with nasal septal deviation when compared with current literature.

CONCLUSION: Physicians and surgeons dealing with the nose and maxillofacial region should be able to analyze paranasal computed tomography by themselves and must be aware of these variations during performing septal and craniomaxillofacial surgery.