Objective: The aim of the present study was to assess and to record the prevalence of incidental maxillary sinus pathologies in asymptomatic patients presenting with dental problems using the cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans.
Method: This retrospective study included 53 patients (106 maxillary sinus) underwent cone beam CT for various dental procedure, which included dental implants, maxillofacial surgery, orthodontics, endodontics, oral pathology, etc. Both male and female included in this study with age range from (18-45). Individuals with known sinus pathology were excluded in this study. The CBCT scans were evaluated and the maxillary sinuses ware examined by an experienced maxillofacial radiologist for the presence or absence of the any pathology. The images were analyzed in three planes (axial, sagittal and coronal) with a slice of (0.15 mm) thickness.
Result: Among total of fifty-three cases included in the current study 35 (66.1%) of them had lesion with 47.2% they get their lesion on both sides followed by (13.2%,5.7%) on the left and right side respectively. while 18 individuals were free from any documented lesion. Regarding gender distribution in our study the females were predominant 54.7%.
Conclusion: Oral radiologist should be aware of these incidental findings and thoroughly evaluate the whole captured CBCT volume in all 3 views (axial, coronal, and sagittal) to exclude any pathologic changes in the maxillary sinus, which can help in early diagnosis and refer the patient to a specialist if necessary for treatment.
Key words: Cone beam computed tomography, asymptomatic sinuses, pathology
|
