The effect of anatomical variations of the sinonasal region on maxillary sinus volume and dimensions: a three-dimensional study

INTRODUCTION: Anatomical variations in the sinonasal region are remarkably common and these variations may have an impact on maxillary sinus development due to their close anatomical adjacency. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of anatomical variations of the sinonasal region on the width, height, length, and volume of the maxillary sinus. METHODS: Cone beam computed tomography records of 120 patients were evaluated. Nasal septum deviation angle was measured for each patient and patients were divided into three groups as mild, moderate, and severe. Sinonasal variations such as nasal septum deviation direction, septal spur, concha bullosa, uncinate process pneumatization, middle concha hypertrophy, inferior concha hypertrophy, paradoxical middle concha and presence of septa in the maxillary sinus were registered. Cone beam computed tomography images were transferred to the SimPlant software thus right and left maxillary sinus volumes and dimensions were measured separately. RESULTS: There was a negative and statistically significant relationship between age and left maxillary sinus width (p = 0.015). The relationships between gender and maxillary sinus volumes and dimensions were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Although there were significant relationships between the nasal septum deviation severity, middle concha hypertrophy, inferior concha hypertrophy, paradoxical middle concha, and presence of septa and maxillary sinus dimensions; there was no significant relationship between septal spur, nasal septum deviation direction, concha bullosa, uncinate process pneumatization, and maxillary sinus dimensions. No statistically significant relationship could be determined between maxillary sinus volume and anatomical variations of the sinonasal region. CONCLUSION: According to our findings, while certain the variations were found to affect the sinus dimensions; none of the variations was found to be related to the maxillary sinus volume.