Clinical Significance of Pathological and Anatomical Findings in Cone Beam CT Scans of the Maxillary Sinus

Eunice Kihara, Mark Chindia, Tom Ocholla, Mohamed Parker

Department of Diagnostics and Radiology, University of Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa.
Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Oral Pathology & Oral Medicine, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya.

DOI: 10.4236/ojst.2014.46040                

Abstract

Objective: To determine the range and prevalence of pathological conditions and demonstration of significant anatomical structures in the maxillary sinuses using the cone beam computerized tomographic (CBCT) scan. Methodology: Case series of 60 CBCT scans of the maxillae. Results: Forty (67%) of the scans were of female patients while the rest (20, 33%) were of males. Remarkably, the majority of the scans were requested for those patients who sought dental implant fabrication. Overall, 35 (58%) scans demonstrated pathological features while 8 (13%) demonstrated significant anatomical structures. Pathological features included mucosal thickening in 26 (43%), polypoid lesions in 9 (15%), total antral opacification in 1 (2%) and foreign body in 1 (2%). The commonest anatomic feature was dental root protrusion into the maxillary sinuses in 8 (13%). Conclusion: The CBCT imaging is an important tool for investigating the maxillary sinuses for pathology and the demonstration of the associated anatomic relations.

Keywords

Cone Beam CT, Maxillary Antrum, Oral Pathology

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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