Infraorbital fat tissue volume and density changes in different age groups: Evaluation with computed tomography.

OBJECTIVES: We investigated senile volume and density changes in infraorbital fat to evaluate by computed tomography (CT). METHODS: CT examinations of a total of 120 patients (60 males and 60 females) were included in 3 age groups: 18-29 (group 1), 30-49 (group 2), and 50 years and older (group 3). Body weight and height and BMI were recorded, and infraorbital fat tissue volume and density were measured on CT. RESULTS: Body weight and BMI of ≥50 years of age were significantly higher than the younger ones. In overweight and obesity groups, infraorbital fat volume increased and density decreased compared to the underweight and normal weight groups. In ≥50 years of age group, infraorbital fat volume was higher; density was lower than 18-29 years of age. Female's infraorbital fat volume was higher; density was lower than males. In each age group, the infraorbital fatty tissue density of the females was significantly lower than those in the males. There was a negative correlation between infraorbital fat volume and density. In older patients and as age groups, body weight and BMI increased, infraorbital fat volume increased, and infraorbital fat density decreased. CONCLUSION: By aging, BMI and body weight and infraorbital fat volume increased, and infraorbital fat density decreased, especially at ≥50 years of age that is thought to be one of the factors that play a role in the downward bulging of infraorbital fat tissue. Females' higher infraorbital fat volume and infraorbital fat density may be a reason for the females' bulging in the infraorbital fat region.

Value of Hounsfield Units in the Evaluation of Isolated Sphenoid Sinus Lesions.

Radiologic findings of fungal sinus disease are generally opacification in paranasal computed tomography (CT) images. The Hounsfield unit (HU) is a standardized objective unit that is also suitable for measuring remodeling and opacifications on CT scans of bone sections of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis. We hypothesized that HU values could provide valuable information in isolated sphenoid sinus lesions before surgery. Between 2012 and 2019, 35 patients underwent functional endoscopic sinus surgery for sphenoid sinus lesions. Tissues obtained from the sphenoid sinus were divided into two groups, fungal and nonfungal, according to the findings of histopathologic examinations. HU values were measured in sphenoid sinus sections on paranasal CT scans of these two groups. Differences in mean and maximum HU values between the two groups were statistically significant (p < .05). The maximum HU values calculated from the sphenoid sinus were 435.08 and 196.23 (p ≤ .05) in the fungal group and nonfungal group, respectively. The mean HU values calculated from the sphenoid sinus were 64.31 and 29 (p ≤ .05) in the fungal and nonfungal groups, respectively. At the maximum cutoff value of 241, the sensitivity and specificity of the HU maximum were 84.6% and 77.3%, respectively. At the mean cutoff value of 41.5, the sensitivity and specificity of the HU mean were 76.9% and 86.4%, respectively. HU is an objective value used in radiographic density measurement. The HU values were higher in fungal lesions than in nonfungal inflammations, and they are useful in preoperative measurement.

Computed tomography based measurement of the dimensions of foramen ovale and rotundum in trigeminal neuralgia.

OBJECTIVES: To compare sizes of the foramen ovale and rotundum in trigeminal neuralgia (TN) patients and healthy individuals on CT images. METHODS: Twenty-one TN patients and 24 healthy volunteers were included in this retrospectively designed study, carried out at the Department of Anatomy, Medical School, Gaziantep University, Gaziantep, Turkey, between May 2004 and August 2009. The dimension of the foramen ovale on the cross-sectional images, and the foramen rotundum on coronal sections on CT images were examined. RESULTS: The mean sizes of the foramen rotundum on the right and left sides were 3.04 x 3.2 mm and 2.8 x 2.9 mm in TN patients, and 2.4 x 3.2 mm and 2.5 x 3.1 mm in controls. The mean sizes of the foramen ovale on the right and left sides were 4.8 x 6.04 mm and 4.9 x 5.5 mm in TN patients, and 3.7 x 8.2 mm and 4.1 x 7.6 mm in controls. The dimensions of left and right foramens were not significantly different in both TN patients and controls (p > 0.05). Furthermore, a statistically significant difference was not found between the foraminal dimensions of the TN patients and controls (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study revealed that the sizes of foramen ovale and rotundum are highly symmetrical in both groups, suggesting that sizes of the foramina are not associated with the occurrence of TN.