Background: Aim of this study was to evaluate the postnatal growth pattern
of the sphenoid sinus. Patients: 83 cerebral MRI examinations of infants an
d children aged 5 months to 14 years were retrospectively reviewed for pneu
matization and growth of sphenoid sinus. Results: A continuous increase of
pneumatization and growth of the sphenoid sinus was demonstrated between in
fancy and adolescence including considerable individual variations. Even in
children less than two years old remarkable spatial extends of this sinus
could be found in some cases. Conclusion: Diagnosis of an acute or chronica
l sinusitis in pediatric patients should alert the clinician to the possibi
lity of a sphenoidal participation.