Maxillary sinus infundibulum narrowing influences sinus abnormalities in spite of the presence or absence of allergy

Abstract Conclusion. Maxillary sinus abnormalities were demonstrated to be associated with maxillary sinus infundibulum narrowing as well as nasal airflow resistance secondary to nonspecific nasal inflammation. Objectives. There is no consensus regarding the pathogenetic roles of allergy and anatomic variations in sinus mucosa abnormalities. We investigated the correlation between allergy and anatomic variations in sinus abnormalities in chronic rhinitis patients in the presence or absence of allergy. Methods: In all, 148 adult patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) and non-allergic rhinitis (NAR) were enrolled. Opacification of sinuses, the size of the maxillary sinus infundibulum, Haller cells, and concha bullosa were evaluated based on computed tomography (CT) images. Simultaneously, nasal airflow resistance was measured. Results: The AR group comprising 105 patients showed maxillary sinus opacification in 45 patients. In the NAR group including 43 patients, soft tissue opacification was observed in 13 p...