title: The role of the uncinate process in sinusitis aetiology: isolated agenesis versus maxillary sinus hypoplasia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to evaluate the clinical significance of maxillary sinus hypoplasia and isolated agenesis of the uncinate process in sinusitis aetiology.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three patients with isolated agenesis of the uncinate process and 27 patients with 43 maxillary sinus hypoplasia variations were recruited. The frequencies of sinusitis episodes and radiological findings were compared between patient subgroups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all, 23 type I maxillary sinus hypoplasia, 13 type II maxillary sinus hypoplasia and 7 type III maxillary sinus hypoplasia variations were detected. Patients with isolated agenesis of the uncinate process underwent antibiotic treatment an average of 7 times per year, whereas those with types I, II and III maxillary sinus hypoplasia were treated 1.57, 3.22, and 5.75 times per year, respectively, over a 5-year period. The antibiotic treatment frequency for patients with isolated agenesis of the uncinate process was significantly higher than for those with types I and II maxillary sinus hypoplasia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Isolated agenesis of the uncinate process seems to play a stronger role than types I and II maxillary sinus hypoplasia in the pathophysiology of chronic sinusitis.
authors: Department of Otolaryngology,Tepecik Training and Research Hospital,Izmir,Turkey.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Uluyol
authors: Department of Otolaryngology,Tepecik Training and Research Hospital,Izmir,Turkey.
authors: İ B
authors: İB
authors: Arslan
authors: Department of Otolaryngology,Basaksehir State Hospital,Istanbul,Turkey.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Demir
authors: Department of Otolaryngology,Tepecik Training and Research Hospital,Izmir,Turkey.
authors: G C
authors: GC
authors: Mercan
authors: Department of Radiology,Tepecik Training and Research Hospital,Izmir,Turkey.
authors: O
authors: O
authors: Dogan
authors: Department of Otolaryngology,Tepecik Training and Research Hospital,Izmir,Turkey.
authors: İ
authors: İ
authors: Çukurova
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005005:Ethmoid Sinus / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008443:Maxillary Sinus / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: Anatomic Variation; Maxillary Sinusitis; Sinusitis