title: Anatomical variations of nose and para-nasal sinuses; CT scan review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the frequency of anatomic variations on computed tomography scan of para-nasal sinuses.
  
  
  METHODS
  The retrospective study was conducted at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, and comprised computed tomography scans of 77 patients who had presented between October 2007 and March 2011. All the scans were reviewed using Picture Archiving Communication System computer software. The scans were reviewed for the presence of deviated nasal septum, paradoxical middle turbinate, Haller cell, Onodi cell, and pneumatisation of the middle turbinate and uncinate process.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of the patients was 31 +/- 13.15 years. One or more types of anatomical variants were observed in 40 (51.9%) of the patients; the most frequent being the deviated nasal septum 20 (26%) and the Concha bullosa 14 (18.2%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Considering the wide range of variations in the anatomy, each and every para-nasal sinus case should be planned individually and carefully to avoid dreadful complications and maximise patients' benefit.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Adeel
authors.forename: Muhammad Shaheryar Ahmed
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Rajput
authors.forename: Shabbir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akhter
authors.forename: Mubasher
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ikram
authors.forename: Asif
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arain
authors.forename: Yasir Jameel
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Khattak
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009666:Nose / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D010256:Paranasal Sinuses / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed