The volumetric relationship of mastoid cavity and paranasal sinuses in unilateral chronic otitis media.

AIMS: A number of studies link ear and paranasal sinus disorders even though correlation between the development of the paranasal sinuses and the mastoid has not been demonstrated clearly. In this study, we examined temporal bone computed tomography (CT) scans to calculate mastoid and paranasal sinus volumes using three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction in patients with unilateral nonsuppurative chronic otitis media (COM) and investigated whether there was a correlation between mastoid and paranasal sinus volumes.

METHODS

Of 85 patients with unilateral nonsuppurative COM, 51 patients who underwent unilateral type 1 tympanoplasty and has temporal bone CTs were included in the study. Open-access Horos DICOM Viewer software (Horos Project, Geneva, Switzerland) was used to measure the volumes of sphenoid, maxillary and frontal sinuses and mastoid air cells. Maxillary, frontal, sphenoid sinus and mastoid air cell volumes were calculated and analyzed.

RESULTS

Unilateral nonsuppurative chronic otitis media caused a statistically significant decrease in ipsilateral mastoid pneumatization, causing an asymmetry between two mastoid air cell systems. Ipsilateral frontal and maxillary sinus volumes were decreased and ipsilateral sphenoid sinus volume increased, however these findings were not statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

Middle ear pathologies cause mastoid cell hypopneumatization. Care should be taken as these changes may also have an effect on the paranasal sinuses. Existing pathologies should be taken into consideration before paranasal or mastoid surgery to avoid possible complications.