Analysis of the frontal recess pneumatization pattern in patients with chronic frontal sinusopathy

Abstract

Objectives

To analyze the pneumatization pattern of the frontal recess using CT scans and to determine the prevalence of frontoethmoidal cells and their possible correlation with the development of sinusopathy.

Methods

By means of a retrospective, analytical and cross-sectional study, 300 CT scans of patients with clinical suspicion of chronic rhinosinusitis were examined, separately on the right and left sides, totaling a sample of 600 paranasal sinuses, with regard to the presence of frontal cells, the presence of blockage or veiling of the recess and frontal sinus.

Results

Frontoethmoidal cells were present in 85.8% of cases; the most frequent cells were supra bulla cells, in 43.8%, and the least frequent were supraorbital ethmoid cells, in 11% of cases. There was a 35% prevalence of supra-Agger cells, 15.8% of supra-Agger frontal cells, 20.2% of supra bulla frontal cells and 12.3% of frontal septal cells. A significant relationship was found between the presence of supra-Agger frontal cells and supra bulla frontal cells and the development of sinusopathy.

Conclusion

The supra-Agger frontal cells and supra bulla frontal cells, when present in the frontal recess, predispose to the development of frontal sinusopathy. Therefore, preoperative tomographic analysis allows a three-dimensional anatomical understanding of the recess and frontal sinus based on determining the pneumatization pattern of this region.

Level of evidence

Level 3.