Volume and distances of the maxillary sinus in craniofacial deformities with midfacial hypoplasia.

OBJECTIVE Craniofacial deformities (CFDs) frequently accompany midfacial hypoplasia. The authors evaluated characteristics of maxillary sinuses that had CFDs with variable degrees of midfacial hypoplasia. STUDY DESIGN Cross-sectional survey with chart review. SETTING Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. SUBJECTS AND METHODS We investigated 40 patients with CFDs having midfacial hypoplasia. Study group 1 (SG 1) consisted of eight patients with Crouzon syndrome (16 maxillary sinuses). Study group 2 (SG 2) consisted of 10 patients with midfacial hypoplasia after palatoplasty (20 maxillary sinuses). Study group 3 (SG 3) consisted of 22 patients with Pruzansky grade I hemifacial microsomia (22 maxillary sinuses on the affected sides). Data on volume and three-dimensional distances (height, width, and depth) from computed tomography were collected and compared with each corresponding control group. Correlation coefficient between volume and the three distances was also calculated. RESULTS The volume, height, width, and depth of the maxillary sinus were significantly decreased in SG 1 (P < 0.01). In SG 2, only the depth was significantly decreased (P < 0.05). In SG 3, there were no significant differences in any parameters. A multiple-regression analysis between the volume and the three distances showed a statistically significant relationship for width in SG 1, width and height in SG 2, and all distances in SG 3. CONCLUSION There were differences in the structure of the maxillary sinuses among patients with different CFDs.