PURPOSE

In adults, sphenoid sinus agenesis is an extremely rare anomaly. The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of sphenoid sinus hypoplasia and agenesis using dental volumetric computed tomography (DVCT) in a population of Turkish individuals.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

DVCT scans in the axial, coronal and sagittal planes of the sphenoid sinus of 384 patients were examined for evidence of sphenoid sinus agenesis and hypoplasia.

RESULTS

In the DVCT scans, bilateral agenesis of sphenoid sinus was not seen. Unilateral agenesis of sphenoid sinus was seen in 0.26% of the sample, and sphenoid sinus hypoplasia was seen in 0.52%. Unilateral hypoplasia of the sphenoid sinus was observed in 0.26% of the sample, and bilateral hypoplasia of sphenoid sinus was observed in 0.26%.

CONCLUSION

In this study, we found a low frequency of sphenoid sinus agenesis. Compared with sphenoid sinus agenesis, the frequency of sphenoid sinus hypoplasia was higher. DVCT may be used as a diagnostic tool to investigate the paranasal sinus.

Keywords: agenesis , hypoplasia , cone-beam computed tomography , sinuses