Relationship between the superior attachment type of uncinate process and presence of agger nasi cell: a computer-assisted anatomic study.
OBJECTIVE
The uncinate process (UP) is an important anatomic landmark in frontal recess surgery. Its superior attachment shows great anatomic variability. The agger nasi (AN) cell is another important structure that affects frontal recess anatomy and there is a close neighborhood between them. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between superior attachment type of UP and the presence of AN cell.


METHODS
A retrospective anatomical study.


METHODS
Computed tomography scans were evaluated of 486 sides of 243 patients who had had paranasal sinus. In 125 (26%) sides, the superior attachment of the UP could not be identified. In the remaining 361 (74%) sides, the prevalence of superior attachment of UP types and the presence of AN cell in each side were recorded. The results were evaluated with chi2 test.


RESULTS
The AN cell was found in 290 (80.3%) of 361 sides. The prevalence of AN cell according to superior attachment of UP types were 79.6% for type 1/2, 90.1% for type 3, 71.4% for type 4, 86.5% for type 5, and 83.3% for type 6. The presence of AN cell according to superior attachment types of UP was not statistically significant (chi2= 3.54, P = 0.315).


CONCLUSIONS
The AN cell was found to be present in 80.3% of the cases. However, the relationship between the presence of the AN cell and the superior attachment types of UP was not statistically significant.
Ercan
Ibrahim
I
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Sişli Etfal Teaching and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. i_ercan@yahoo.com
Cakir
Burak Omür
BO
Sayin
Ibrahim
I
Başak
Muzaffer
M
Turgut
Suat
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005004:Ethmoid Bone / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D005626:Frontal Sinus / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000166:cytology; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000166:cytology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014420:Turbinates / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000166:cytology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging