Volume 26, Issue 122, April 2022

Evaluation of anatomical variations of uncinate process and its relationship with radiographic signs of maxillary sinusitis in Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) images

Mahshid Razavi¹, Nasim Shams², Bahareh Shams³, Sina Salehin^4♦

¹Assistant Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
²Assistant Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
³Assistant Professor, Department of Periodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, ShahidBeheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
⁴Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology Resident, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran

^♦Corresponding author
Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology Resident, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Anatomical features of uncinate process are associated with many variations in different people. Since this process is the main landmark in functional sinus endoscopic surgery and the first structure to be removed during surgery, knowledge of anatomical variations of the process prior to surgery is essential to prevent damage to adjacent structures. Materials & Methods: This is a retrospective descriptive-analytical study using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images of maxilla in coronal section of 109 patients (218 Uncinate processes) available in archives of the Department of Maxillofacial Radiology, Jundishapur School of Dentistry, Ahvaz during 2020. Images were examined for typing, type of flexing of uncinate process, and symptoms of maxillary sinusitis under supervision of a radiologist. Data were analyzed by SPSS software, Excel and GraphPad Prism (ver 8.0.2). Results: Among symptoms of maxillary sinusitis, increased mucosal thickness was the most common and air-fluid level was the rarest symptom. In this study, a significant relationship was observed between anatomical variation of Uncinate process and symptoms of maxillary sinusitis; so that, there was a significant relationship between increased thickness of sinus mucosa and Type II on the right and Type III on the left as well as increased thickness of sinus mucosa and both types of medial and lateral flexion on the left. Conclusion: Based on results of our study, Type II and Type III are associated with greater susceptibility to maxillary sinusitis. CBCT is also recommended to evaluate anatomy of uncinate process and symptoms of sinusitis before functional sinus endoscopic surgery.

Keywords: Uncinate process, Nasal cavity, Maxillary sinusitis, CBCT

Medical Science, 2022, 26, ms129e1814

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.54905/disssi/v26i122/ms129e1814

Published: 12 April 2022