We conducted a retrospective analysis of 71 selected pediatric patients, aged 1 to 7 years, which were submitted to helical computed tomography examination of the paranasal sinuses in the period between March, 1997 and April, 1998 due to recurrent acute sinusitis and chronic sinusitis. Clinical and helical computed tomography findings were compared by evaluating the pneumatization of the paranasal sinuses, ostiomeatal complexes, anatomic variants, the status of mucosal surface and lesion extension. The most common CT findings were total or partial opacification of one or more paranasal cavities (92.9%), followed by mucosal thickening (67.6%). In the majority of cases there was association between sinusitis and ostiomeatal obstruction. Anatomic variants were identified from the age of one year. The most common anatomic variant was septonasal deviation (14.1%) that was associated to sinusitis in about 71% of the patients.
Helical computed tomography; Paranasal sinuses; Radiology
