Three Dimensional Volumetric Analysis of the Maxillary Sinus Using Computed Tomography from Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria

Abstract

The maxillary sinus is a pneumatic cavity within the maxilla. The extent
of pneumatisation varies among individuals; its volume is influenced by
age, and alveolar bone height, prompt evaluation of the maxillary sinus
volume is useful in sinus surgery. The aim of this study is to determine
volume of the maxillary sinus using computed tomography, to correlate
this with side, age and sex and to provide baseline data for values in our
environment. A retrospective evaluation of 130 subjects (79 males and
51 females), between 20 - 80 years, with normal maxillary sinus CT
anatomy, from head CT scans was carried out at the Radiology Department
of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto. The
anteroposterior transverse and craniocaudal diameters were measured
from axial, coronal and sagittal reformatted images. All measurements
were taken between the widest points on the sinuses and the volume of
each sinus was determined by the product of these three diameters and
the slice thickness. On the right, mean sinus volume for males was
14.98cm3, and 13.26cm3 for females. On the left, average sinus volume for
males was 15.08cm3, and 16.06cm3 for females. There was a considerable
decrease in the mean volume on both sinuses from 14.15cm3 to 13.51cm3 and from 14.33cm3 to 9.61cm3 respectively in relation to increase in age. The overall mean of the right and left maxillary sinus volume were 14.30cm3 and 14.54cm3 respectively. It is therefore concluded that
Computerized Tomography measurements may be useful in volume assessment of the maxillary sinus as a preoperative work-up procedure for sinus surgery.