Does Nasal Septal Deviation Have an Influence on Distribution Patterns of the Frontal Ethmoidal Cells

Objective: To investigate the role of nasal septal deviation on the presence or distribution patterns of the frontal ethmoidal cells (types I to IV), the pneumatization patterns of the frontal sinus, and to search the association between the frontal ethmoidal cells and the pneumatization degree of the frontal sinus and the presence of concha bullosa. Methods: Paranasal sinus computed tomography scans of 268 patients with nasal septum deviation (178 males, 90 females; age range 18-65 years) were retrospectively evaluated for the presence and distribution patterns of frontal ethmoidal cells, agger nasi cells, concha bullosa, and the pneumatization degree of the frontal sinus on the deviated side and contralateral side. Results: The nasal septum was deviated to the right in 135 patients and to the left in 133 patients. There was no significant difference in terms of presence of agger nasi cells, pneumatization degrees of the frontal sinuses, and frontal ethmoidal cells and at the ipsilateral (deviated side) and contralateral sides. When there was a concha bullosa, there were significantly more frontal ethmoidal cells on the ipsilateral side but not on the contralateral side. Conclusion: Our study suggests that the presence and distribution of frontal ethmoidal cells are not influenced by nasal septal deviation.