The Analysis of Maxillary Sinus Aeration Dependent on Aging Process: Volume Assessment by Three Dimensional Reconstruction by High Resolutional CT Scanning

Jun, Beom Cho; Song, Sun Wha; Park, Chan Soon; Lee, Dong Hee; Kim, Dong Gi; Cho, Kwang Jae; Cho, Jin Hee

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the maxillary sinus volume in human depending on age and sex by using 3-dimensional reconstruction of computed tomography (3DR-CT). SUBJECTS AND METHOD: One hundred seventy three people (238 maxillary sinuses), who had taken paranasal sinus high resolution CT between December 2000 and November 2003, and had no evidence of inflammation or hypoplasia in CT finding, and had no specific history of surgery of paranasal sinus or maxillofacial trauma, were retrospectively analyzed. 3-dimensional reconstruction images were obtained using the surfacerendering technique with images by high-resolution CT on a personal computer. A software used for 3-dimensional reconstruction was Vwork 4.0 (CyberMedTM, Korea) used. The mean volume of maxillary sinus were evaluated in both sex. The ratio of maximal horizontal and half horizontal extension and the degree of descent of sinus below the nasal floor were evaluated. RESULTS: The development of maxillary sinus were found in males in their twenties and in teen females. The mean volume of maxillary sinus in an early adult were 24043 mm3 (Male) and 15859.5 mm3 (Female). There was a significant difference observed in the sinus volume (p<0.05) according to sex and the significant difference in the volume of maxillary sinus according to age groups between sex before reaching maximal volume. But there were no significant correlation among aging process, aeration of maxillay sinus after its maximal growth and the descent below the nasal floor. CONCLUSION: The growth of maxillary sinus is continued until the age of twenties in male and teens in female. Therefore, maxillay sinus operation affecting bony structures before those age may affect the sinus development; inferior meatal antrostomy also should be done after confirming the level of inferior extension of maxillary sinus below the nasal floor.