[MR tomography study of the development of the sphenoid sinus].
BACKGROUND
Aim of this study was to evaluate the postnatal growth pattern of the sphenoid sinus.


METHODS
83 cerebral MRI examinations of infants and children aged 5 months to 14 years were retrospectively reviewed for pneumatization and growth of sphenoid sinus.


RESULTS
A continuous increase of pneumatization and growth of the sphenoid sinus was demonstrated between infancy and adolescence including considerable individual variations. Even in children less than two years old remarkable spatial extends of this sinus could be found in some cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Diagnosis of an acute or chronical sinusitis in pediatric patients should alert the clinician to the possibility of a sphenoidal participation.
Zeitler
P
P
Kinderklinik Würzburg.
Pahnke
J
J
Braitinger
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D002508:Cephalometry; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013101:Sphenoid Sinus / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development*