The association between septal deviation and the presence of a maxillary accessory ostium.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Retrospective cross-sectional imaging study
PubMed 26250105 · doi:10.1002/alr.21610
What was done
Researchers retrospectively examined paranasal computed tomography (CT) scans of 1,104 adult patients. After excluding individuals with sinusitis, nasal polyposis, allergic rhinitis, sinus tumors, septal perforation, maxillary sinus hypoplasia or aplasia, prior nasal surgery, or nasal trauma, 807 patients met inclusion criteria. Scans were evaluated for the presence and side of septal deviation (SD) and maxillary accessory ostium (MAO).
What was found
Among the 807 patients, SD was detected in 572 (70.9%) and MAO in 299 (37.1%). A statistically significant association was present between SD and MAO (p = 0.002), and the side of the MAO significantly correlated with the direction of the SD (p < 0.001). Specific effect sizes (such as odds ratios or relative risks) were not provided in the abstract.
Why it matters
This study identifies an anatomical link between septal deviation and maxillary accessory ostia in patients without major sinonasal pathology, aiding the understanding of sinonasal anatomical variants.
Limits
The retrospective cross-sectional design cannot establish causality. Numerical effect sizes and confidence intervals were not reported in the abstract. Airflow dynamics, severity of deviation, and clinical symptoms were not evaluated.