Anthropometric Analysis of Frontal Sinus Using 3D CT in Koreans

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The frontal sinuses are a pair of triangularly shaped, air-filled chambers lined by mucoperiosteum and located between the inner and outer tables of the frontal bone. Until recently, our understanding of gender variations in craniofacial anatomy has been chiefly built upon anthropometric studies, which typically employ facial surface measurements or plain film radiography. The aim of this study i to determine the sizes of the frontal sinus in both sexes in Koreans. METHODS: 95 Korean subjects who underwent maxillofacial 3-Dimensional computed tomography(CT) between January 2009 and December 2009 were enrolled. Frontal sinus dimensions and forehead measurements were taken at midline and at 10, 20, and 30mm to the left and right of midline using sagittal, coronal, and axial images. The data was analyzed for significant differences between measurements made at the selected points in the frontal sinus, for left to right variations, for gender variations, and for racial differences. RESULTS: The mean thickness of the anterior table ranged from 2.31 to 3.23mm. Mean anteroposterior depth of the frontal sinus ranged from 7.38 to 9.45mm and did not vary significantly at any distance from midline. Frontal sinus height was greatest at midline(mean=29.24mm) and progressively lessened at lateral distances. Mean total width at the level of the supraorbital ridge was 53.66mm. For all measurements, no significant left to right variation was noted. Comparing the sexes, males were found to have greater dimensions in most frontal sinus measurements, though these differences were only found to be significant at or close to midline. The male forehead was marked by more acute nasofrontal angle(133.3degrees versus 141.6degrees) and a steeper posterior forehead inclination(14.9degrees versus 7.7degrees). CONCLUSION: Using CT imaging, forehead and frontal sinus dimensions have been described. Generally, males had larger overall frontal sinus dimensions. And Korean had similar sized frontal sinus to Caucasian in height and width. But in AP distance Korean had lesser measurement. The result of this study may be helpful in the comprehension of normal size of frontal sinus in Korean.