Prevalence of pathologic findings in the maxillary sinus in cone-beam computerized tomography

Objective. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of pathologic findings in the maxillary sinus by using cone-beam computerized tomography (CBCT). Study design. One thousand twenty-nine consecutive CBCT scans were retrospectively inspected for pathologic findings in the maxillary sinus by 3 observers. Findings were differentiated by mucosal thickening, partial opacification with liquid accumulation, total opacification, and polypoidal mucosal thickening. Position and diameter of the maxillary sinus ostium were assessed. Correlations for pathologic findings and the factors of age and gender were calculated. Patients with clinical manifestations of sinusitis or total opacification in either sinus were reevaluated. Results. A total prevalence for pathologies in the maxillary sinus of 56.3% was found in this study. The most frequent pathology was mucosal thickening. Patients > 60 years of age showed significantly more pathologies in the maxillary sinus (P = .02), and male patients showed significantly more pathologies than female patients (P = .01). Clinical signs of sinusitis could be confirmed on CBCT images for all patients. Conclusions. Pathologies in the maxillary sinus are frequently found in CBCT imaging and have to be treated or followed-up accordingly. CBCT is applicable for diagnosis and treatment planning of clinically present sinusitis. (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2011;111:634-640)