A Discernment of Sphenoid Sinus Pneumatization -An Inquisitive CBCT Study

Abstract

Purpose: Variations in sphenoid sinus pneumatization are quite diversified and can impact surgeries involving suprasellar, para-sellar, and lesions near the floor of the middle cranial fossa. The details of this can be acquired by cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), a 3-D imaging modality that provides the ability to examine anatomical structures in multiple planes by overcoming superimpositions and magnification. The purpose of this study was to conduct an epidemiological assessment inspired by the classifications provided by Gibelli et al. and Bilgir et al. on the morphological variants of the sphenoid sinus pneumatization using CBCT in a South Indian population.

Material and Methods: In this retrospective study, one hundred and sixty CBCT scans of sphenoid sinuses devoid of any pathology were evaluated. Descriptive analysis and the Pearson Chi-square test were used to analyze any statistically significant difference between the sexes of patients and were evaluated using SPSS 22.0 software for Windows.

Results: The posteroanterior pneumatization in these 160 scans was evaluated, where 5.6% was presellar, 26.8% sellar, 53.1% postsellar, and 14.3 % anterior. No conchal type of pneumatization was demonstrated. Aberrant pneumatization of 13.7% involving the pterygoid process, anterior clinoid process, and dorsum sellae was observed. No statistically significant difference between the sexes was found.

Conclusion: To perform surgery with the least amount of risk of morbidity and human error, it is essential to have a good understanding of surgical anatomy and its variations. Hence, it is necessary to have a thorough grasp of sphenoid sinus pneumatization and its classification as there are discrepancies between the numerous study results that have been reported in the literature. Given that it produces images with higher spatial resolution than traditional computed tomography (CT), CBCT—the modern and most sophisticated imaging technique for the head and neck—aids in better visualization and evaluation of anatomical variation of sphenoid sinus pneumatization. This adds to the accuracy of the results of the study. Therefore, in order to assess pertinent anatomic features in the maxillofacial region and prevent unintentional injury, CBCT should be the gold standard imaging modality.