[Anatomic variations of the ostiomeatal complex and their correlation with chronic sinusitis: CT evaluation].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between anatomic variations in the ostiomeatal complex (OMC) and chronic sinusitis. METHODS: Coronal plane CT scans of the paranasal sinuses showing the ostiomeatal complex including the middle turbinate, uncinate, ethmoid bulla, agger nasi and Haller cell were analyzed in 297 individuals (594 sides). Statistical analyses were carried out with SPSS 5.0. RESULTS: There were 81.14% of OMC noted to have at least one variation. The anatomic variations included paradoxical curvature of the middle turbinate (13.97%), the pneumatized middle turbinate (34.85%), uncinate hyperplasia(19.36%), deviation of uncinate (45.27%), large ethmoidal bulla (30.30%), large agger nasi (0.70%) and Haller cell (1.00%). The correlation between variations and chronic sinusitis was significant (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The occurrence of OMC variation is common. The variations may be one of the causes of chronic sinusitis. Therefore, properly handling the variations was important in the endoscopic sinus surgery.