Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study of Paranasal Sinuses Dimensions According to Age and Gender

Background: Considering the importance of paranasal sinus anatomy in treatment planning and related surgeries, the present study aimed to investigate the changes in the dimensions of paranasal sinuses according to age and gender by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods: MRI images of 310 patients, including 200 women and 110 men aged between 10 and 70 years old, were included in the study. The depths of all paranasal sinuses and the width of the left and right frontal sinuses were estimated in the axial plane. In addition, the height of the left and right frontal sinuses in the sagittal plane as well as the width and height of the maxillary and sphenoid sinuses in the coronal plane underwent measurement. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 21, and the significance level was considered at 0.05. Results: Except for the width of the right maxillary sinus, the height of the left frontal sinus, and the width and depth of the left sphenoid sinus, a significant relationship was observed between the other dimensions of paranasal sinuses and gender (P<0.05). Only 5 dimensions, including the width of the left and right maxillary sinuses, the height of the left maxillary sinus, the depth of the left frontal sinus, and the depth of the right sphenoid sinus, had significant relationships with age, so that they decreased with age (P<0.05). The highest symmetry was between the left and right maxillary sinuses. Conclusion: The paranasal sinus was different in men and women. Some dimensions of paranasal sinuses had a significant relationship with age. These results can be used in planning prosthetic treatments and performing surgeries with fewer complications.