The Clinical Significance of Three-Dimensional Reconstruction of Paranasal Sinus Computed Tomography in Assessing the Aeration of Unilateral Maxillary Sinusitis

Jun, Beom Cho; Song, Sun Wha; Lee, Dong Hee; Cho, Ju Eun; Chun, Byung Joon; Cho, Kwang Jae; Yeo, Sang Won

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
The purposes of this study were to evaluate the aeration of maxillary sinus, using 3-dimensional reconstruction of computed tomography (3DR-CT), to compare the estimated air volume of the normal maxillary sinus with that of the inflamed one, and to evaluate the relationship between the aeration of maxillary sinus and the degree of decreased area of natural ostium. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: In 10 patients having unilateral maxillary sinusitis refractory to proper medical therapy, 3-dimensional reconstruction images were obtained based on high-resolution CT by surface-rendering technique on a personal computer. A software (Vworks(TM) 4.0, CyberMed Inc, Korea) was used for 3-dimensional reconstruction. "Maxillary ostium on CT" was defined to measure the maxillary natural ostium on 3-dimensional reconstruction images. RESULTS: In unilateral maxillary sinusitis, an air volume of the affected sinus was 4.71+/-3.12 mL, and that of the contralateral normal one was 13.29+/-9.76 mL. The area of the affected "maxillary ostium on CT" was 11.10+/-14.40 mm2, and that of the contralateral normal sinus was 24.20+/-18.64 mm2. The air volume and area of "maxillary ostium on CT" of the affected maxillary sinus were reduced significantly, compared with those of the contralateral normal one (p<0.05). But, there was no significant correlation between the aeration of maxillary sinus and the degree of decreased area of "maxillary ostium on CT" (p=0.285). CONCLUSION: 3DR-CT is the new technique, which enables us to measure the volume of maxillary sinus as well as the area of maxillary ostium. Also, it is helpful in assessing the aeration of maxillary sinus.