Variações anatômicas das conchas nasais e septo nasal e suas relações com alterações na mucosa do seio maxilar: um estudo em imagens de TCFC

Abstract

The aim of this research was to determine, through cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images, the prevalence and relationship of anatomical variations of the nasal turbinates (NT) and nasal septum (NS), in patients from Zona da Mata Mineira, with alterations in the maxillary sinus (MS) mucosa, as well as analyzing the relationship of these variables with demographic data. This cross-sectional observational study included the analysis of 120 CBCT scans of the paranasal region, which were evaluated using the i-CAT Vision software, on an MPR screen (multiplanar reconstruction), by two trained and calibrated evaluators. The MS, lower and middle NT, and NS were analyzed bilaterally; in addition to collecting data regarding sex, age and side affected by the anatomical variation. To assess intra- and inter-examiner agreement, Kappa indices were calculated. To verify the association between the nominal qualitative variables, the chi-square or Fisher's exact tests were used. The measure of association was determined by the value of Phi or Cramer's V. Most patients had partial opacification of the MS (89.2%), inferior turbinate hypertrophy (ITH) (60.8%) and NS deviation (NSD) (85%), however, there were no cases of inferior concha bullosa (ICB) and the prevalence of middle concha bullosa (MCB) was 20%. There was no significant association between NSD and ITH (p=0.294). Therefore, variations in the anatomy of the NT and NS were not significantly related to changes in the MS mucosa, nor was there a correlation between the ITH or CB side and the NSD. There was no significant correlation between the study variables and age, and only a significant association, albeit weak (17%), was verified between sex and changes in the MS mucosa.