The Prevalence and Clinical Significance of Superior Turbinate Pneumatization on Computed Tomography / 대한이비인후과학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Middle turbinate pneumatization (MTP; concha bullosa) is a common anatomic variation, and superior turbinate pneumatization (STP) was also described. However, there has been little study of the STP and its clinical significance. In this study, we tried to determine the prevalence of STP. We also evaluated whether STP correlates with MTP, inflammation of posterior ethmoid or sphenoid sinus. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Patients with sinonasal symptoms and for whom paranasal sinus computed tomography (PNS CT) scans was performed between August 2008 and January 2009 were evaluated. A retrospective review of CT scans of 112 patients (224 sides) was done for STP, MTP and paranasal sinus haziness. RESULTS: We found STP in 37 patients (33%)-bilaterally in 14 and unilaterally in 23 patients, and in 51 out of the 224 sides (22.8%). The prevalence of STP in CT without mucosal hazziness is higher (29%) than that in CT with mucosal hazziness (15%). MTP was found in 70 sides (31.2%). There was no association between the presence of STP and MTP. No correlation was found between STP and posterior ethmoid or sphenoid sinus inflammation. CONCLUSION: STP is a not infrequently found anatomic variation and may not be related with MTP and adjacent sinus inflammation