Prevalence of anatomic variation demonstrated on screening sinus computed tomography and clinical correlation.

Screening sinus computed tomography (SCCT) of 133 patients performed from March 2003 to February 2004, were retrospectively reviewed, concerning anatomic variation at ostiomeatal unit (OMU) and nasal septal deviation. Six patterns of inflammatory sinus disease were designated: maxillary infundibulum, nasofrontal duct, OMU, sphenoethmoidal recess, polyposis and sporadic. The most common anatomic variation was concha bullosa (14.3%), followed by Haller cell (9.4%), large Agger nasi cell (7.9%) and paradoxical middle turbinate (5.3%). Nasal septal deviation was presented in 75 patients (56.4%). Inflammatory sinus disease was presented in 181 lateral nasal walls (68%) and maxillary infundibular pattern was the most common (33.1%). There was significant correlation between large Agger nasi cell and nasofrontal duct pattern (p < 0.05). The remaining anatomic variations and nasal septal deviation had no significant correlation to the inflammatory sinus disease. Overall, the anatomic variation which can compromise the mucociliary drainage was frequently observed, however, only the large Agger nasi cell had significant correlation to the inflammatory sinus disease.