Study of Anatomical Variations of Paranasal Sinuses among Sudanese Using Computed Tomography

Abstract

Anatomical variations in paranasal sinus may differ among the different ethnic groups. And it is important to recognize the clinical and surgical significance of these variations. This descriptive study was conducted at Khartoum - Sudan to evaluate anatomical variants of paranasal sinus region.100 images of Computed Tomography for paranasal sinus (61females and 39males) were evaluated in both axial and coronal plane, nasal septal deviation, haller cells, onodi cells, and aggar cells nasi and concha bullosa were identified in the images. The result of the study showed that the most common anatomical variant of the paranasal sinuses and nasal cavity was nasal septal deviation it was present in 78 of 100 patient (78%), male tend to have higher prevalence 46.1% than female. The second most common variant was aggar cell nasi present in 62 of 100 patients (62%) female have higher prevalence. Haller and onodi were the third most anatomical variant present to some extent in (32%), and concha bullosa consider to be the less common anatomical variant in population (26%).The most frequent bilateral paranasal sinus and nasal cavity anatomic variants present in 42 of 62 patients those have agger cell nasi. Analysis of every routine CT scan of the paranasal sinuses obtained for sinusitis or rhinitis for the presence of different anatomic variants is of questionable value unless surgery is planned. For patients who are planning to undergo functional endoscopic or other skull base surgery, however, it is important to be aware of certain anatomic variants.