The Impact of Nasal Septum Deviation on Paranasal Sinus Volumes

Abstract

Objective: Researchers have extensively investigated the reasons behind variations in the volumes of paranasal sinuses, either among different individuals or between the right and left sides of the same individual. These differences in volumes have been associated with nasal septal deviation (NSD) and anatomical variations. In this study, we aimed to retrospectively analyzed the effect of NSD on frontal sinus, maxillary sinus, and sphenoidal sinus. Material and Method: A total of 281 patients (151 females and 130 males) admitted to Gaziosmanpaşa University Hospital were included in the study. Paranasal sinus computed tomography (CT) images consisting of 0.625-mm-thick slices were obtained from the patients. The areas of the frontal sinus, maxillary sinus, and sphenoidal sinus were determined using ImageJ software. The volume of each sinus was calculated using Cavalieri’s principle. We analyzed the relationship between the calculated volumes and nasal septal deviation. Results: Our study found that the frontal sinus volume values were 4.67 cm³ on the right side and 5.03 cm³ on the left side in women. In men, the right-side volume value was 7.07 cm³ and the left-side volume value was 7.77 cm³. The sphenoidal sinus volume value was calculated as 6.35 cm³ on the right side and 6.57 cm³ on the left side in women. In males, the right-side volume value was 7.34 cm³ and the left-side volume value was 7.62 cm³. The maxillary sinus volume was calculated as 19.38 cm³ on the right side and 19.37 cm³ on the left side in women. In males, the right-side volume value was 22.80 cm³ and the left-side volume value was 23.71 cm³. The frontal sinus volume values in males were larger than those in females (p=0.04). The maxillary sinus volume values in males were greater than the maxillary sinus volume values in females (p=0.02). There was no significant relationship between the presence of septal deviation and sinus volumes (p>0.05). The right, left, or s-shaped deviation direction did not cause a significant difference in sinus volumes (p>0.05). Conclusion: The findings show that there is no correlation between volume values and the presence and shape of nasal septal deviation. However, significant differences in volumes were observed between the genders. Because the severity of nasal septal deviation is related to the volume value, different results can be obtained by measuring the frontal sinus, maxillary sinus, and sphenoidal sinus volume values in individuals with more advanced deviation.