Preliminary Analysis to Quantify Sinonasal Airspace Changes in Chronic Rhinosinusitis

Abstract

Purpose:

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), marked by nasal mucosal inflammation, is a common condition often assessed via computed tomography (CT). However, the extent of airway opacification due to CRS-related inflammation remains incompletely quantified relative to healthy sinonasal anatomy. This preliminary study aims to quantify nasal and paranasal sinus volumes in CRS subjects, offering insights into the impact of inflammation on sinonasal airspace volumes.

Methods:

Anatomically accurate 3-dimensional sinonasal airspaces were reconstructed from CT images of 9 adult subjects with varying disease severity of CRS sans polyposis and 10 adult subjects with healthy normal sinonasal anatomy. Volumetric quantification of the sinonasal airspace volumes between subject groups were performed for comparison.

Results:

Across all subjects, nasal cavity volume was 23% larger in the Normal group; although not statistically significant (P = .14), the effect size ( $r_b$  = −.28) indicated a small volumetric advantage. Similarly, maxillary and frontal sinuses were 12% and 61% larger in the Normal group, respectively, with effect sizes (maxillary: $r_b$  = −.16; frontal: $r_b$  = −.23) supporting this trend despite non-significant P-values (maxillary: P = .42; frontal: P = .24). Notably, female subjects with CRS exhibited significantly reduced maxillary and frontal sinus airspace volumes.

Conclusion:

As a result of inflammation, preliminary findings suggest that patients with CRS exhibit notably reduced airspace volumes compared to those considered “normal.” Additionally, differences in airspace volumes between sexes, as supported by existing literature, were also noted.