RESUMEN
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the significance of maxillary septa in endoscopic nasal surgery.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Five hundred and ninety-two patients (both inpatients and outpatients) encountered in our hospital during May 2006 and December 2006 were included in this study. Computer tomography images of sinuses from scheduled axial and coronal or saggital scan were analyzed by using digital imaging and communication in medicine.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The incidence of the coronal complete maxillary septa was 3.2% (19/592), 16 cases on bilateral sides and 3 cases on unilateral side. The cavity anterior to the coronal complete maxillary septa drainage into the middle meatus, whereas the antrum posterior drainage into the superior meatus. The incidence of chronic sinusitis was 36.8% (7/19) in patients with coronal complete maxillary septa.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The optimum method to observe maxillary coronal septa was axial CT. The diseases in the cavity posterior to the coronal complete maxillary septa and in pterygopalatine fossa should be operated via the superior meatus.</p>