MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES OF PARANASAL SINUSES AMONG AFGHANS: A RADIOGRAPHIC STUDY
Keywords:
Paranasal sinus, Afghans, RadiographyAbstract
Background
The sinuses are a network of interconnected hollow spaces in the face, filled with air and a thin mucus lining. The paranasal sinuses consist of four pairs of air-filled cavities surrounding the nasal cavity, all linked to the nose through small openings. This study aims to assess the different dimensions of the right and left frontal sinuses using CT scans in Afghan patients.
Methods & Materials: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study that used data from patients who needed CT-scan examinations for their skull-related problems at the radiology department of the French Medical Institute for Mother and Children hospital in Kabul City.
Results: Among the 60 patients referred, 30 were men and 30 were women. The patients' ages ranged from a minimum of 16 years to a maximum of 65 years, with an average age of 37.2 years. The overall average volume of the frontal sinuses for both sexes was found to be 4.42 cm³. For men, the average frontal sinus volume was 4.13 cm³, while for women, it was 4.71 cm³, indicating that women have larger frontal sinuses than men. In women, the average volume of the left and right frontal sinuses was 4.85 cm³ and 4.57 cm³, respectively, showing that the left frontal sinus is larger. In men, the average volume of the left and right frontal sinuses was 4.11 cm³ and 4.14 cm³, respectively, suggesting that the right frontal sinus is slightly larger. Additionally, 6.6% of the cases showed the absence of frontal sinuses in the referred patients.
Conclusion: In this study, the average age of the patients was assessed to be in the late thirties. The estimated average volume of the frontal sinuses was approximately four point four cubic centimeters. The volume of the frontal sinuses was found to be greater in women compared to men. Additionally, in women, the left frontal sinus tended to be slightly larger than the right, while the opposite was true for men. Furthermore, a small percentage of the patients had no frontal sinus present at all.
