BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: For prevent damage to the roof anterior ethmoid during sinuses surgery, diagnostics connection of upper middle concha and shape this region is important. In addition, the expansion of the pneumatized middle concha (concha bulousa, CB) may affect the formation of the ethmoid roof. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between pneumatized middle concha and the anterior ethmoid roof dimensions by CT scan.
METHODS: In this analytic cross-sectional study, coronal CT scans of 379 patients with sinusitis symptoms were consecutively investigated. In order to measure the width of the anterior ethmoid roof, two points were selected and considered as reference points in the anterior cranium including external and internal parts of the ethmoid roof on the first coronal slice. Then, the largest axial diameter of CB was measured.
RESULTS: Mean (±SD) axial diameter of the CB and width of the anterior ethmoid roof at the right side were respectively 3.78 (1.99) and 7.71 (1.31) mm (r= 0.17, P= 0.002). Mean (±SD) axial diameter of the CB and width of the anterior ethmoid roof at the left side were respectively 4.09 (2.24) and 7.73 (1.5) mm (r= 0.21, p<0.001).
CONCLUSION: Pneumotized middle concha and its size increase has a positive relationship with increase in the width of the anterior athmoid roof. This finding can be useful when planning for sinus surgeries to avoid iatrogenic damage to the ethmoid roof.