Evaluation of maxillary sinus volumes and pathologies in children with and without cleft lip and palate using cone beam computed tomography.

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the maxillary sinus (MS) volume and pathologies, nasal septum (NS) deviation, and MS septa formation in children with and without cleft lip and palate (CLP); also to investigate the possible causes of MS pathologies.

Materials And Methods: Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) images of 200 (100 CLP, 100 control) children (5-18 years old) were evaluated from the computer database of Marmara University Faculty of Dentistry. Children with a history of maxillofacial trauma, diseases that affect bone metabolism, orthognathic surgery, extrinsic pathologies of the MS, and accompanying syndromes were excluded. NS deviation, MS septa formation, volume, and pathologies evaluated using Mimics® software. In statistical evaluations; Student t test, paired sample t test, Chi-Square test, Fisher's Exact Chi-Square test, Continuity Correction, Chi-square analysis in one-eyed layout, McNemar test, and logistic regression analysis were used.

Results: Total MS volume was smaller in the CLP group (21 232 mm) than in control children (23 763 mm) (P:0.026). NS deviation and MS pathology were more frequent in the CLP. In logistic regression analysis, there was no significant relation between the presence of NS deviation and pathology in MS. The presence of CLP increased the risk of MS pathology by 2.6 times.

Conclusion: We found that children with CLP have less MS volume and an increased rate of NS deviation and MS pathology compared to the control group. Further radiological and clinical studies are needed to explain the predisposing factors of MS pathology in children with CLP.