Prevalence of sinonasal anatomical variations and their effect on chronic rhinosinusitis in Al-Ramadi teaching hospital, Ramadi city, Iraq

Abstract

Anatomical variations (AVs) of the nose and paranasal sinuses (NPS) are quite common findings on CT scans. However, their effect on chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is still controversial. The objectives of this study is to estimate the prevalence of AVs of the NPS on CT scans and to assess the association between multiple versus single variant and CRS. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Al-Ramadi Teaching Hospital during the period from January 1, 2018, to March 31, 2019. We reviewed the CT scans of the patients with suggestive symptoms and signs of CRS. Out of 203 CT scans, there were 153 (75.4%) scans associated with AVs of the NPS (group A). Seventy-eight with and 75 without radiological features of sinusitis. While group B (n=50 24.6%) were not detected any variants, 24 with and 26 without features of sinusitis. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (p-value>0.05). There were 11 AVs detected. The septal deviation of 63% was the commonest one. Most of the AVs of the NPS were multiple (2 or more) 99 (64.7%). Forty-nine (49.5%) of them were associated with features of sinusitis. There was a statistically significant difference (p-value <0.05) between those with multiple and those with single AVS concerning the radiological features of sinusitis. In conclusion; AVs of the sinonasal region were common findings on CT scans. A deviated nasal septum is the commonest AVs. Most of our patients contain more than 2 AVs, and they were more vulnerable to sinusitis.

Keywords

• anatomical variations
• ct scan of nose and paranasal sinuses
• fess; nose