Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between nasal septal deviation (NSD) and the volume of mastoid air cell pneumatization and compare it with the volume of maxillary sinus in a pediatric population.

MATERIALS and METHODS: This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted at a university-based, secondary referral hospital. Paranasal sinus CT imaging data of 59 children were reconstructed to the 3-dimensional model, and subsequently, we measured the volume of the maxillary sinus and mastoid air cell. On coronal images, nasal septal angle (NSA) and NSD/NC (nasal septal deviation/nasal cavity) ratio were measured.

RESULTS: Mastoid air cell volume, as well as maxillary sinus volume, of the deviated side was smaller than that of the contralateral side, but these were not statistically significant. There was no correlation between NSA and volumes of mastoid air cell and the maxillary sinus. There also was no correlation between NSD/NC ratio and mastoid air cell and maxillary sinus volumes. Significant linear and growth regression was found between age and volume of the mastoid air cell and maxillary sinus but not between age and NSA and NSD/NC ratio.

CONCLUSION: Mastoid air cell volume and maxillary sinus volume of the deviated side tended to be smaller than those of the contralateral side, which suggests that NSD can influence both aerations. However, because the degree of NSD did not correlate with the volumes of the mastoid air cell and maxillary sinus in this study, we should consider that further possible factors may be involved in both aerations.