Dr. Santhosh Kumar S. S,
BACKGROUND Chronic rhinosinusitis is a disease characterised by inflammation of nose and paranasal sinuses persisting for more than 12 weeks. It has been shown to have correlation with sinonasal anatomical variations. Hence this knowledge can be used for diagnosis as well as management of this condition. MATERIALS AND METHODS This is a prospective study conducted among 73 patients who came to ENT OP of TSC hospital who were clinically diagnosed as chronic rhinosinusitis. Objectives of this study are 1. To know the prevalence of sinonasal anatomical variations in these patients and 2. Using this knowledge in planning treatment of these patients. RESULTS CT PNS of 73 patients were studied and the most common variation noted was septal deviation (73.97%) followed by agger nasi (41.09%) and concha bullosa (39.7%). Least commonly noted was Onodi cell and bent uncinate process (2.73%). Other variations noted include Haller cell (9.58%) and paradoxical MT (19.17%). CONCLUSION Anatomical variations are a common finding in patients with CRS. Keystone area in the pathology of CRS is OMC and any variation which obstructs OMC and hampers mucociliary drainage of sinuses needs to be specifically addressed during surgery (FESS) and hence knowledge of these variations can help in deciding management of these patients.
