THE PARANASAL SINUSES IN CT-IMAGING - DEVELOPMENT FROM BIRTH TO AGE 25

Available data about the size of the different sinuses to date are der ived from anatomical or radiological studies. In order to verify or po ssibly correct the findings of other authors we evaluated the cranial computed tomography (CT)-images of more than 5600 patients. We measure d the sex-linked and age-dependent width and length of the four sinuse s for both sides in axial sections. For the first time we have a clear picture of the development of the paranasal sinuses for both sexes fr om birth until the age of 25 years. Our results confirm general ideas concerning the size of the sinuses. Moreover they provide new details, especially about the first occurrence and the course of development i n different stages since we found each sinus already present in 1.5% ( frontal sinus) to 94% (ethmoid cells) of the newborn of both sexes. Fi nally, we can state that the periods of expansion are equal in both se xes (ethmoid cells) or last up to 2 or 3 years longer (frontal sinus) in male patients. In agreement the sinuses of both sexes differ betwee n 5.4% (sphenoid sinus) and 17.1% (frontal sinus) in definitive size w ith statistically significant differences in later ages. The data abou t sphenoid sinuses deserve special attention since they show a large v ariability in size (up to 214% in one direction) as well as in shape. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.