title: Anatomic variations of the frontal sinus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Minimally invasive approaches are increasing in popularity. We have undertaken an anatomic and radiological study of the frontal sinus that is frequently involved in the supercilliary minicraniotomy used to access the parasellar region.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We wanted to evaluate the prevalence and morphological characteristics of the frontal sinus in a certain population sample.
  
  
  METHODS
  98 randomly assigned individuals were subjected to CT examinations. The antero-posterior diameter, sagittal diameter, transverse diameter and total volume of the frontal sinus were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The frontal sinus tended to be larger in males than in females with the exception of the transverse diameter (p < 0.10).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Knowledge of the anatomic variations of the frontal sinus is important in surgical approaches through the superciliary arc in order to avoid complications such as infections and CSF fistula.
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphology, Escola Bahiana de Medicina, Bahia, Brazil. bela@provider.com.br
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Pondé
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Metzger
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Amaral
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Prandini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D003399:Craniotomy; D005260:Female; D005626:Frontal Sinus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011897:Random Allocation; D012737:Sex Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed