Korean J Otolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.
2000 May;43(5):507-513.
Development of the Paranasal Sinuses in Children: A MRI Study
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
- 2Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Abstract
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BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Although there are abundant reports on the embryology and the development of paranasal sinuses, few studies were performed with respect to the normal development of paranasal sinuses with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, especially in Korean children. This study was designed to evaluate the normal development of paranasal sinuses in Korean children with MR imaging.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
MR images of the paranasal sinuses in 400 children under the age of 15 were reviewed retrospectively.
RESULTS
In all cases, maxillary and ethmoid sinuses were pneumatized. At the age of less than 1, anteroposterior (AP), transverse and vertical lengths of the maxillary sinus were 15.8+/-4.2 mm, 9.4+/-3.1 mm, and 8.9+/-3.0 mm respectively. By the age of 11, the growths of AP (36,7+/-2.3 mm) and transverse (27.6+/-4.4 mm) lengths of the maxillary sinus ceased. By the age of 13, the growth of vertical (37.8+/-5.0 mm) length of the maxillary sinus ceased. At the age of less than 1, AP and transverse lengths of the ethmoid sinus were 27.0+/-3.3 mm and 5.4+/-1.2 mm, respectively. By the age of 10 and 12, the growths of AP (41.1+/-2.0 mm) and transverse (11.7+/-1.7 mm) lengths of the ethmoid sinus ceased. The sphenoid sinus pneumatization was identifiable as early as 33 day of age in an axial view and at 4 months of age in a sagittal view of MR image. The sphenoid sinuses were pneumatized in almost all children older than 2 years. By the age of 12, the growth of transverse length of the sphenoid sinus ceased. However, AP and vertical lengths of the sphenoid sinuses continued to grow until the age of 15. CONCLUSION: The results of this study may be helpful in the management of sinus diseases in children.
