The enlargement of the maxillary ostium after balloon sinuplasty evaluated by a novel measuring technique from 3D CBCT images.

Our aim was to evaluate the effects of balloon sinuplasty on the size of the ostium in the maxillary sinuses in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis from cone beam computer tomography (CBCT) scans of the sinus. This is a blinded retrospective trial in patients who had undergone balloon sinuplasty of the maxillary sinus. CBCT scans were taken and SNOT-22 Quality of Life questionnaire completed before and 12 months after the operation. The size of the maxillary ostium was measured from the CBCT scans three-dimensionally. The association of changes in the SNOT-22 scores of the ostium was analysed. We discovered that the balloon sinuplasty increased the size of the maxillary ostium in all dimensions. The changes were statistically significant (p<0.05) in the axial diameter and the ostium area. The number of patent ostia increased after the intervention. The association between SNOT-22 score and ostium patency were statistically significant before the operation. Our conclusion is that the threedimensional measuring technique provides a reliable method to evaluate ostium dimensions. Balloon sinuplasty increased the size of the maxillary ostium and the result was maintained for 12 months after the operation.