Assessment of the superior turbinate pneumatization and concomitant nasal pathologies on computed tomography

Abstract

Aim: Knowledge of the anatomical variations of the nasal cavity is extremely important for the safety and ease of endoscopic sinus surgery applications. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the incidence and uni/bilaterality of superior nasal turbinate pneumatization (STP). In addition, we aimed to investigate the frequency of middle turbinate pneumatization (MTP), nasal septum deviation (NSD) and paradoxical middle concha (PMC), and to relate the presence of these pathologies to the presence of STP. 

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the images of 358 consecutive patients who undertaken paranasal sinus computed tomography within five months’ time in our institution. The presence and uni/bilaterality of the STP and MTP as well as the presence of NSD and PMC were noted. The relation of the STP with MTP, NSD and PMC were evaluated. Besides, the relationship between nasal variations and gender and age was evaluated.

Results: Of 358 patients, 105 (29.3%) had STP with 51 (48.6%) being bilateral and the remaining 54 (51.4%) being unilateral. The number of patients with accompanying MTP, NSD and PMC were 84 (80%), 63 (60%) and 32 (30.5%), respectively. No significant relationship between STP with NSD or PMC was recorded. However, STP significantly associated with MTP. We also noted that the patients with either STP or MTP were significantly younger than those without STP or MTP.

Conclusion: The knowledge of the variations of the structures that determine the nasal cavity anatomy and how often these variations are seen will enable the endoscopic surgical procedures to be performed easily and safely.

Keywords

• Paranasal sinuses,Anatomical variation,Pneumatized turbinate,Computed tomography

Süperior türbinat pnömatizasyonu ve eşlik eden nazal patolojilerin bilgisayarlı tomografi ile değerlendirilmesi

Abstract

Amaç: Endoskopik sinüs cerrahi uygulamalarının emniyeti ve kolaylığı yönünden nazal kavitenin varyasyonlarının bilinmesi son derece önemlidir. Bu çalışmanın amacı, üst türbinat havalanmasının (ÜTH) sıklık ve tek/çift taraflılığının değerlendirilmesidir. Yanı sıra, orta türbinat havalanması (OTH), nazal septum deviasyonu (NSD) ve paradoksal orta konka (POK) sıklıklarının saptanarak ÜTH ile ilişkilendirilmesi de amaçlanmıştır.

Yöntemler: Retrospektif olarak, ünitemizde beş ay içinde paranazal sinüs bilgisayarlı tomografisi elde olunan ardışık 358 hastanın inceleme kesitleri değerlendirildi. ÜTH ve OTH varlığı ve tek/çift taraflılığı ile NSD ve POK varlığı kaydedildi. ÜTH’nın MTH, NSD ve POK ile ilişkisi değerlendirildi. Yanı sıra, nazal varyasyonların cinsiyet ve yaşla ilişkisi değerlendirildi.

Bulgular: Çalışma grubunu oluşturan 358 hastanın, 51’i (%48,6) çift taraflı ve geri kalan 54’ü (%51,4) tek taraflı olmak üzere 105 tanesinde ÜTH mevcuttu. ÜTH’na eşlik eden OTH, NSD ve POK olgularının sayısı sırasıyla 84 (%80), 63 (%60) ve 32 (%30,5) idi. ÜTH ile NSD ve POK arasında anlamlı ilişki saptanmadı. Ancak, ÜTH ile OTH arasında anlamlı birliktelik saptandı. Ayrıca, ÜTH veya OTH mevcut olan hastaların, mevcut olmayanlara kıyasla daha genç olduğunu kaydedildi. 

Sonuç: Nazal kavite varyasyonlarının ve bunların sıklıklarının bilinmesi, endoskopik cerrahi prosedürlerin kolay ve emniyetli uygulanmalarını sağlayacaktır.

Keywords

• Paranazal sinüsler,Anatomik varyasyon,Türbinat havalanması,Bilgisayarlı tomografi

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