Prevalence of Sinus Abnormality Observed in the Cranial Computed Tomograms Taken to Evaluate Head Injury Patients

Nam, Eui Cheol; Lee, Bong Jae

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate and approximate the prevalence of paranasal sinusitis in the Korean general population.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The initial sample group included 586 patients referred for cranial computed tomography (CT) for the evaluation of head injuries and post-traumatic headache. Of 586 subjects, 73 patients showing cranial fracture lines on CT were excluded from the statistics. The subject population was made up of 316 (61.6%) men and 197 (38.4%) women. The sample group had the age range of 1-83years (median age: 27years). Any mucosal thickening of sinuses on CT was regarded as radiologic sinus abnormality. The degree of opacification in each sinus group was classified either as mild (the opacification of less than a third of a sinus cavity), moderate (a third to two thirds), or severe (more than two thirds).
RESULTS
Radiologic abnormality in one or more sinuses were found in 186 (36.3%) of the 513 subjects. The male predominence was noted since 43.4% was the male population as opposed to 24.9% (p<0.001) of the female population. Children (40.9%) were more frequently involved than adults (34.6%); however, the difference was not statistically significant. Sample groups were identified according to three different degrees of abnormality, such as mild (15.4%), moderate (11.3%) and severe (9.6%). Ethmoid sinus (26.7%) was most commonly involved, followed by the maxillary sinus (22.8%), sphenoid sinus (9.0%), and frontal sinus (6.9%).
CONCLUSION
These results indicate that there is a high prevalence (36.3%) of radiologic abnormalities of the paranasal sinus in the general Korean population. The authors suggest to correlate the radiologic findings with the clinical symptoms and signs when deciding on the final diagnosis and treatment of sinusitis.