Clinical Implications of the Uncinate Process in Paranasal Sinusitis: Radiologic Evaluation

Abstract

Ostiomeatal unit (OMU) plays an important role in the development of paranasal sinusitis. The ethmoidal infundibulum is bordered medially by the uncinate process, and the anatomic relationship between the ethmoidal infundibulum and the frontal recess may depend upon the types of attachment of the uncinate process. The aim of this study was to evaluate the types of attachment of the uncinate process and its implications in the development of sinus inflammation. The most frequently observed type of the uncinate process attachment on OMU computerized tomographic (CT) scans was the lamina papyracea (LP) attachment, followed by the skull base (SB) and the middle turbinate (MT) attachments. The order of frequency of both partial and total opacification in the anterior ethmoidal and frontal sinuses was LP, MT, and SB types. However, the maxillary sinus was most frequently involved in SB type. When only total opacification of the paranasal sinuses on CT scans was considered, it was less frequent in SB type than the other types. The results of this study suggest that ventilation and drainage of the paranasal sinus may be more favorable in SB type than in LP or MT type.