Volumetric study in the development of paranasal sinuses by CT imaging in Asian: a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
The volume of the air cavities in the paranasal sinuses is not only the simplest, but also the most important index for paranasal sinus evaluation. However, few volumetric studies have been performed in all age groups. The purpose of the current study was to outline the normal development of paranasal sinuses in all age groups, and to determine normal adult volumetric values by means of computed tomographic (CT) scan of paranasal sinus using volumetric procedures.


METHODS
A prospective volumetric CT study was conducted with 260 patients (520 sides) <25 years of age by means of three-dimensional reconstruction.


RESULTS
The frontal sinuses began to pneumatize at 2 years of age, exhibited a faster growth pattern between 6 and 19 years of age, and the mean volume after full growth was 3.46±0.78 cm(3). The maxillary sinuses were pneumatized at birth in all cases, exhibited a monomodal growth pattern increasing until 15 years of age, and the mean volume after full growth was 14.83±1.36 cm(3). The floor of the sinus was the same level as the floor of the nasal cavity was between 7 and 15 years of age. The ethmoid sinuses exhibited a faster initial tendency to increase until 7 years of age, were completed by 15-16 years of age, and the mean volume after full growth was 4.51±0.92 cm(3). The sphenoid sinuses exhibited a growth spurt between 6 and 10 years of age, were completed by 15 years of age, and the mean volume after full growth was 3.47±0.93 cm(3).


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study are presented to provide the basis for an objective normal volume of sinus development and for studies involving diseases of the sinuses.
Park
Il-Ho
IH
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
Song
Jong Seok
JS
Choi
Hyuk
H
Kim
Tae Hoon
TH
Hoon
Seung
S
Lee
Sang Hag
SH
Lee
Heung-Man
HM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005005:Ethmoid Sinus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development; D005260:Female; D005626:Frontal Sinus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008443:Maxillary Sinus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development; D010256:Paranasal Sinuses / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000254:growth & development; D013101:Sphenoid Sinus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D055815:Young Adult