Frequency of Sinonasal Anatomic Variations Without Mucosal Disease

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the importance of sinonasal anatomic variations in the etiology of sinusitis by observingthe frequency using a paranasal sinus computed tomography (CT) scan.Material and Methods: The CT scans of patients who were admitted to our clinic with a complaint of nasal obstructionbetween November 2013 and February 2016 and underwent paranasal sinus CT scan were examined. In total,118 patients without sinonasal mucosal disease were included in the study. The frequency of anatomic variationswere assessed by examining the paranasal sinus CT.Results: The anatomical variations of patients without sinonasal mucosal disease determined by CT scan on thecoronal and axial planes were agger nasi cells (54.2%), concha bullosa (46.6%), accessory ostium (28.8%), Haller cells(19.4%), paradoxical middle turbinate (19.4%), and uncinate process pneumatization (7.6%).Conclusion: We found that the frequency of anatomic variations without sinonasal mucosal disease was similar tothe rates of sinusitis with mucosal disease in literature. We conclude that anatomical variations alone contribute to thepathophysiology of the disease in the presence of associated factors rather than causing sinusitis.