Computed Tomography of the Paranasal Sinuses in the Planning of Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery and the Prevention of Complications (Illustrated Review)

An otorhinolaryngologist must know the anatomy of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses prior to endoscopic surgery, because many structures cann’t be evaluated by him during visual and endoscopic examination. In this regard, all patients undergo computed tomography of the paranasal sinuses as a preoperative preparation, which allows not only to identify the pathological process, but also to assess anatomical features that may predispose to surgical complications. This review illustrates various anatomical variants of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses, which should be noted in the protocol and focus the attention of an otorhinolaryngologist on them in order to reduce the risk of possible surgical complications.