title: Prevalence of incidental maxillary sinus pathologies in dental patients on cone-beam computed tomographic images.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to infer and to record the prevalence of incidental maxillary sinus pathologies in patients presenting with dental problems using the cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans performed for maxillofacial diagnostic purposes.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective study has evaluated 201 patients (402 maxillary sinuses consecutive CBCT) for various incidental maxillary sinus pathologies by two observers. Pathologic findings were categorized as mucosal thickening (MT), opacification (OPA), polypoidal-mucosal thickening (PT), others (antrolith and discontinuity of the sinus floor) and no pathologic findings. Correlations for pathologic findings and the factors of age and gender were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence for total incidental findings is 59.7%. The present study showed MT (35.1%) as most prevalent finding followed by OPA in (16.6%), PT in 7.2% and others in 0.7%. There was no statistically significant difference between gender and between the age groups. There was no statistically significant difference between different indications groups for CBCT scans.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The incidental maxillary sinus abnormalities are highly prevalent in the asymptomatic dental patients; hence oral radiologists should be aware of these incidental findings and comprehensively evaluate the entire captured CBCT volume, which can help in early diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of the patient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Nair Hospital and Dental College, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Mamta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Raghav
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Nair Hospital and Dental College, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Freny R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Karjodkar
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Nair Hospital and Dental College, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Subodh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sontakke
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Nair Hospital and Dental College, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Kaustubh
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sansare
keywords: Cone-beam computed tomography; maxillary sinus; pathology; polyps