The relationship between superior attachment of the uncinate process of the ethmoid and varying paranasal sinus anatomy: an analysis using computerised tomography

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this research was to examine  how attachment of the uncinate process superiorly (SAUP)  relates to possession of an agger nasi cell, pneumatisation  of the middle turbinate and the measurements of the  base of the skull anteriorly. The study was carried out  using computerised tomography (CT). Methods: The study involved CT imaging captured from  727 individuals with persistent sinusitis- 1454 images in  total, featuring coronal section of the paranasal sinus.  The frequency of SAUP, existence of an agger nasi cell,  pneumatisation of the middle turbinate and how high  the lamella measured laterally, were all noted. Landsberg  and Friedman’s classification scheme for SAUP was utilised.  Statistical analysis used the chisquared test. Results: In 1.65% of cases, SAUP was not identifiable.  With regard to class of SAUP, the most frequent was  type 2, then, in descending order of frequency, types 1,  4, 3, 5 and 6. The frequencies noted were 27.6%, 19.8%,  15.4%, 14.5%, 12.0% and 9.0%, respectively. An agger  nasi cell was visualised in 894 images (61.07%). There  was pneumatisation of the middle turbinate in 395  images (27.17%). The lamina cribrosa measured 5.58mm  on average. Conclusion: There were significant correlations between  the type of SAUP and the existence of agger nasi cells or  of concha bullosa. However, the type of SAUP was not  statistically significant in predicting the height of the  lamina cribrosa.