COMPUTED-TOMOGRAPHY OF THE PARANASAL SINU S FOR ENDONASAL SINUS SURGERY

In a retrospective study 170 computed tomographies recorded in patient s with chronic sinus disease were evaluated. The extent of sinus disea se and the involvement of the different paranasal sinuses were well se en. Up to now 50 patients have undergone surgical treatment. The coinc idence of the preoperative CT with the intraoperative findings was abo ut 90%. Anatomic particularities of the paranasal sinus in an individu al patient may predispose to recurrent sinusitis or mean there is an i ncreased risk of intraoperative complications. The main risk factors a re a far lateral location of the posterior ethmoid cells (28.8 %), a m uch lower position of the cibriform plate in comparison to the ethmoid roof (11.8 %), and extensive lateral aeration of the sphenoidal sinus (1.2 %). All patients should undergo CT scanning in coronal and axial planes prior to endonasal sinus surgery. This gives a guide for detec tion of inflammatory lesions and anatomic variations or anomalies, thu s making it possible to prevent intraoperative complications.