Is palatal cavity volume affected by maxillary sinus pathologies? A CBCT study.

Aim: This study uses cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) to determine whether pathology in the maxillary sinus (MS) affects the volume of the palatal cavity.

Methods: 188 individuals, 95 women and 93 men, aged between 17 and 63, were included in the study. MS pathology in the patients and the open-closed status of the maxillary sinus ostium (MSO) were recorded. Palatal volume measurements were performed using open-access ITK-SNAP via CBCT images. Statistical analysis of the study was conducted using SPSS v.21 software (IBM. Chicago. IL. USA), and p<0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: The average palatal volume was 1375.29±313.38 mm in male patients and 1235.33±250.40 mm in females, and it was found to be statistically significant between genders (p=0.001). MS pathology was detected in 114 (60.6%) of the patients. It was determined that the most frequently observed pathology in both the right (n = 58, 30.9%) and left (n = 65, 34.6%) side MS of individuals was mucosal hypertrophy. It was determined that the mean palatal volume was higher when the MSO was closed (p = 0.000). As a result of the correlation analysis, it was shown that the presence of MS pathology had a positive effect in explaining palate volume by 38.6% (R = 0.386).

Conclusion: Palatal cavity volume was affected by maxillary sinus pathologies. Palatal cavity volume increases in the presence of MS pathologies and when MSOs are closed.