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Anatomical variations in the human paranasal sinus region studied by CT

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 October 2000

I. PÉREZ-PIÑAS
Affiliation:
Radiodiagnostic Service of the Virgen Macarena University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of Seville, Spain
J. SABATÉ
Affiliation:
Departments of Pharmacology, Paediatrics and Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Seville, Spain
A. CARMONA
Affiliation:
Department of Morphological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Seville, Spain
C. J. CATALINA-HERRERA
Affiliation:
Department of Morphological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Seville, Spain
J. JIMÉNEZ-CASTELLANOS
Affiliation:
Department of Morphological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Seville, Spain
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Abstract

A precise knowledge of the anatomy of the paranasal sinuses is essential for the clinician. Conventional radiology does not permit a detailed study of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses, and has now largely been replaced by computerised tomographic (CT) imaging. This gives an applied anatomical view of the region and the anatomical variants that are very often found. The detection of these variants to prevent potential hazards is essential for the use of current of endoscopic surgery on the sinuses. In the present work, we have studied the anatomical variants observed in the nasal fossae and paranasal sinuses in 110 Spanish subjects, using CT in the coronal plane, complemented by horizontal views. We have concentrated on the variants of the nasal septum, middle nasal concha, ethmoid unciform process and ethmoid bulla, together with others of lesser frequency. The population studied showed great anatomical variability, and a high percentage (67%) presented one or more anatomical variants. Discounting agger nasi air cells and asymmetry of both cavities of the sphenoidal sinus, which were present in all our cases, the variations most often observed were, in order, deviation of the nasal septum, the presence of a concha bullosa, bony spurs of the nasal septum and Onodi air cells.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© Anatomical Society of Great Britain and Ireland 2000

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