title: Prevalence of pneumatized uncinate process and accompanying neighboring variations.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to investigate the prevalence of uncinate process (UP) pneumatization and also to investigate the association of UP pneumatization with concurrent morphological variations in neighboring structures and the presence of maxillary sinusitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective study where coronal computed tomography scans of 1,500 UPs in 750 patients (483 males, 267 females; mean age 36.3±14.7 years; range 7 to 84 years) were examined to determine the prevalence of UP pneumatization and to assess any concurrent neighboring anatomical structures and the presence of maxillary sinusitis between January 2013 and June 2013.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Uncinate process pneumatization was identified in a total of 6.26% of our patients with 1.60% being bilateral, 2.53% on the right only, and 2.13% on the left side only. Other than concurrent occurrences of right maxillary sinus septa (p=0.046), growth of the right ethmoidal bulla (p=0.044) and presence of maxillary sinusitis (right side: p=0.046, left side: p=0.035) were seen.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We detected a 6.2% prevalence of UP pneumatization in our study group. An abnormally sized and over-pneumatized UP can cause narrowing of the infundibulum and impaired sinus drainage. Such functional blockage can lead to recurrent maxillary sinusitis, stuffiness, and decreased olfaction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Bezmi Alem Vakıf University, Faculty of Medicine, 34093 Fatih, İstanbul, Turkey. alperyenigun@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Alper
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yenigün
authors.forename: Cihat
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gün
authors.forename: İsmihan İlknur
authors.initials: İİ
authors.lastname: Uysal
authors.forename: Musa Kemal
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Keleş
authors.forename: Alaaddin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nayman
authors.forename: Ahmet Kağan
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Karabulut
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D005005:Ethmoid Sinus / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008443:Maxillary Sinus / Q000473:pathology*; D015523:Maxillary Sinusitis; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012852:Sinusitis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D055815:Young Adult