Role of CT- Scan in Assessment of Anatomical Variants of Nasal Cavity and Paranasal Sinuses

ABSTRACT: Objective: To evaluate the role of CT scan of nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses in preoperative assessment of anatomical variants and in determining their frequencies. Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was done as a part of residency training for FCPS in the subject of Radiology on 132 patients who visited the hospital, Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT) from March 2012 to April 2013. All CT scans were reviewed for presence of concha bullosa, variations of uncinate process, haller cell, onodi cells, aggernasi cells, ethmoid bulla, paradoxical middle turbinate, deviated nasal septum (DNS), pneumatization in the nasal septum, superior and middle turbinate, and uncinate process. Frequencies of all anatomical variants were calculated using SPSS version 16. Results: Deviated nasal septum was found to be the most frequent variant 31% followed by Concha bullosa 18.9% and variations in uncinate process 12%. Rhino sinusitis was found in all cases with paradoxical medial turbinate and patients with variation in uncinate process. Conclusion: CT scan can play an important role in preoperative assessment of variants and in determining their frequencies in nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses. It could be of great help for surgical planning and minimizing the surgical complications in patients.