3D cone beam (CBCT) in evaluation of frontal recess: findings in youth population.

BACKGROUND: Frontal recess is the anatomical region most difficult to manage in endoscopic frontal sinus surgery due to the extreme variability of the cell patterns that may be observed in this area. CT has always been the gold standard in preoperative evaluation, but especially in the assessment of the causes of frontal recess obstruction and surgical failure. In recent years, this accredited and reliable method has been complemented by computed tomography cone beam (CBCT), which provides similarly detailed anatomical information with a lower dose of radiation. AIM: The purpose of this paper is to analyze and validate the use of CBCT in the study of frontal recess, and especially its anatomical variants in a youth population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed 500 CBCT images of paranasal sinuses of young subjects with sinus inflammation pathology between 2009 and 2011. RESULTS: We observed that the method is very sensitive in detecting anterior and posterior recess cells, also in a youth population and then report on some significant images. CONCLUSIONS: We confirm the validity of CBCT, which by virtue of its sensitivity and specificity may be used in the analysis of frontal recess pathologies, especially when a young population is involved.