Abstract
We investigated the correlation between the incidence of anatomical variations in the nasal cavity and mucosal inflammation in the paranasal sinuses, using computed tomography (CT). In total, 239 patients (478 sides; 138 men and 101 women; age range, 8-89 years) underwent coronal plane CT for screening from November 2001 to October 2006. Patients with facial trauma, paranasal sinus carcinoma, inverted papilloma, or previous sinus surgery were excluded from this study. We evaluated the incidence of agger nasi air cells, Haller's cells, middle and superior turbinate pneumatization, paradoxically curved uncinate processes, paradoxically curved middle turbinates, and septal deviation. The mucosal condition and ostiomeatal complex were evaluated by the Lund-Mackay staging system, and correlations between groups were analyzed using Mann-Whitney's U tests. The incidence of nasal septal deviation was 14.6% and the incidences of agger nasi air cells, concha bullosa (pneumatization of the middle nasal turbinate) and Haller's cells were 47.7%, 22.4% and 10.7%, respectively. Paranasal CT showed partial or total opacification of the sinuses in approximately 40% of the anterior and posterior ethmoid and maxillary sinuses. Concha bullosa increased the CT opacification of the paranasal sinuses, except for the sphenoid sinus. There was no significant association between the occurrence of concha bullosa and nasal septal deviation. Our results suggest anatomical variations in the nasal cavity induce mucosal inflammation in the paranasal sinuses.
