EFFECTS OF ADENOID PRESENCE AND SEPTAL DEVIATION ON PARANASAL SINUS PATHOLOGIES: A CT-BASED ADULT POPULATION STUDY
1Konya Numune Hastanesi, KBB Servisi, Konya, Türkiye Objective: Anatomical variations and mucosal pathologies of the paranasal sinuses are of critical importance in nasal surgical planning. This study aims to evaluate, in an adult population, the relationship between adenoid tissue presence, morphological subtypes of septal deviation, and paranasal anatomical variations with sinus mucosal pathologies based on paranasal CT reports, and to compare the findings with the existing literature.Methods: This retrospective descriptive study included 203 adult patients. Adenoid tissue, septal deviation (presence and type), mucosal thickening, retention cysts, and anatomical variations were systematically evaluated based on paranasal CT reports. Chi-square and Mann-Whitney U tests were used for statistical analyses.
Results: Adenoid tissue was detected in 7.4% of patients and showed a significant association with mucosal thickening in the maxillary, ethmoid, frontal, and sphenoid sinuses (p < 0.05). Frontal sinus mucosal thickening was significantly higher in patients with septal deviation (p = 0.0161). Moreover, the morphological type of septal deviation was significantly associated with the reporting of completely normal sinuses (p < 0.05). The distribution of anatomical variations was largely consistent with the literature, although some variations (e.g., paradoxical middle concha) were less frequent.
Conclusion: This study is one of the few systematic investigations demonstrating a significant association between adenoid tissue and sinus mucosal pathologies in the adult population. The morphological characteristics of septal deviation, not just its presence, should be considered in evaluating sinus anatomy. Paranasal CT imaging provides valuable and objective data not only for surgical planning but also for assessing the anatomical contributors to sinus physiology.
Keywords : Adenoid hypertrophy, septal deviation, computed tomography, paranasal sinus, anatomical variation, mucosal thickening