Incidental findings of maxillary sinuses in Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT)

Abstract

Background- The paranasal sinuses are paired sets of air-filled cavities of the craniofacial complex composed of maxillary, frontal, sphenoidal, and ethmoidal air cells. Amongst these, maxillary sinuses, also, called maxillary antra or, Antra of Highmore, are of clinical significance to dental professionals because of their proximity to the teeth and associated structures.

Aim - To evaluate the prevalence of abnormalities of the maxillary sinus using cone-beam computed tomography [CBCT] of the maxilla in dental patients.

Material and methods- In this retrospective study, CBCT scans of 150 dental patients who were advised CBCT scans for a purpose other than the sinus evaluation were included. CBCT was used to assess incidental maxillary sinus pathologies and the data was tabulated. Statistical analysis was done using descriptive statistics.

Results- Seventy-two patients had pathological changes [44.9%], 38 [25.3%] had mucosal thickening, 11[7.4%] had mucous retention cyst, 6 [4.1%] had complete while another 4 [2.7%] had complete opacification, 3 [2%] had cystic lesions and discontinuity of wall and 1 [0.7%] had a benign odontogenic and fibro-osseous lesion, discontinuity of wall each.

Conclusions- Incidental findings of abnormalities in the maxillary sinus were a common finding in the present study using CBCT scans of maxilla. Dental professionals reviewing CBCT scans should be cautious and aware of maxillary sinus anatomy and pathologies when interpreting a CBCT scan of the maxilla which can help in early detection of undetected diseases.