SINONASAL ANATOMICAL VARIATIONS IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC RHINOSINUSITIS.

Corresponding Author:
Dr. Manoj Gopalan,
Sreelakam, SNRRA-133,
Sreenarayana Guru Road,
Ulloor Medical College P. O.,
Trivandrum-695011,
Kerala, India.
E-mail: manoj.g.ent@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND

The anatomy of nose and paranasal sinuses is complex, and many anatomical variations have been described in these areas, which have been implicated in the occurrence and severity of rhinosinusitis. The aim of this study is to determine the sinonasal anatomical variations and their prevalence in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis, who are planned and worked up for endoscopic sinus surgery, with the help of computed tomography.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 86 patients with chronic rhinosinusitis, undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery in the Department of ENT, Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, were studied with the help of computed tomography and the sinonasal anatomical variations were recorded and analysed. Sample size was taken for convenience.

RESULTS

Out of the 86 patients studied, 83.7% of patients had at least one sinonasal anatomical variation. Of the variations studied, deviated nasal septum (DNS) was the most common (73.25%), followed by concha bullosa (37.2%). 81.4% of the patients had bilateral chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) while 18.6% had unilateral disease. All the patients with unilateral CRS had single or multiple anatomical variations affecting the same side.

CONCLUSION

All the patients with unilateral disease had single or multiple anatomical variations affecting the same side which suggests the role of anatomical variations in the aetiology of chronic rhinosinusitis.

KEY WORDS

Chronic Rhinosinusitis, Sinonasal Anatomical Variations, Endoscopic Sinus Surgery, Computed Tomography