Prevalence of pathologic findings in maxillary sinuses in asymptomatic patients using cone-beam computed tomography

Abstract

Context and Aim: Complications related to maxillary sinuses are often related to their anatomic and pathologic variations and their close approximation to the tooth roots. It, thus, becomes important to study these sinuses even in situations when the patients reporting for dental complaints are asymptomatic for the sinuses. In the present scenario, cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) has emerged as the standard imaging modality for bone and soft-tissue abnormalities offering multiple views with thin sectioning. The aim of the present study was to detect the prevalence of pathologic findings in maxillary sinuses in patients who were asymptomatic for the sinuses using CBCT. Materials and Methods: CBCT scans of 150 patients between the ages of 18 and 70 years reporting for routine dental complaints were analyzed for detecting pathologic findings in the maxillary sinuses. Statistical Analysis Used: The data were analyzed using the SPSS software version 15.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Distribution of the overall prevalence of pathologic findings according to age and sex were calculated using the Chi-Square test whileP < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: Overall prevalence of pathologic findings was found to be 58%, with the prevalence of mucosal thickening (MT) being 29.3%, polypoidal MT, 36.7%, partial opacification with liquid accumulation, 2%, complete opacification, 0.7%, and miscellaneous findings as 0.7%. Conclusion: The present study highlighted the clinical implications, dental pathologies might have, in relation to the maxillary sinuses underlying the significance of their accurate assessment in the perspective of dental and maxillofacial and ENT problems with a multidisciplinary approach of treatment for the successful treatment of chronic sinus pathoses.