Background: To evaluate the frequency and radiodiagnostic characteristics of maxillary antroliths using cone beam computed tomography. Materials and Methods: A review of 1166 patients aged 11-85 years was conducted to assess the frequency of maxillary antroliths, considering sex, age, and location. The relationship between antroliths and sex, location, dental treatment status, and sinus inflammation was evaluated. The shape, size, and volume of the antroliths were also analyzed. Significance was set at p=0.05 for statistical analysis.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
1,200
Retrospective radiologic study
Recep Tayyip Erdogan University Training and Research Hospital
Rize, Turkey (Türkiye)
Antrolith descriptive analysis
CBCT images were examined in axial, sagittal, and coronal slices to investigate the presence of antroliths. The age and sex information of the detected cases were recorded.
Time frame: for three days from the beginning of the study
Antrolith localization and relationship the dental status evaluation
Each sinus cavity exhibiting antroliths was evaluated for distribution and location as follows: (1) unilateral or bilateral, (2) single or multiple, (3) tooth extraction/root canal treatment/residual root fragment/implant/periodontal disease and/or periapical lesion (any dental cause of sinus inflammation), (4) premolar or molar region, and (5) sinus floor, lateral wall, or medial wall.
Time frame: for three days from the beginning of the study
Antrolith and mucosal thickness classification
the detected antroliths were categorized according to the classification of Cho et al. In this classification made according to the sizes of antroliths, Punctate = ≤3 mm in both height and width, Linear = ≤3 mm and more than treble in width, and Amorphous = \>3 mm in both width and height. Additionally, the locations of the openings of the maxillary sinus ostiums were evaluated, and mucosal thickening, if any, was measured. Mucosal thickness measurements were made on coronal slices using NewTom's NNT viewer measuring tool. Similar to Chen et al., the sinus membrane thickness was measured perpendicular to the bone wall, from the maximum thickest region. Similar to Chen et al.'s classification of sinus membrane thickness measurements, which used Block and Dostoury's classification, the mucosal thickness was classified into three subgroups: membrane thicknesses \<2 mm, 2-5 mm, and \>5 mm. Also, similar to the article by Cho et al., the degree of inflammation in the maxillary sinus was
Time frame: for three days from the beginning of the study
Antrolith volume measurement
3D reconstruction and volume measurements of antroliths were performed using the ITK SNAP software (free software under the GNU General Public License developed by the National Institutes of Health, the US National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioenergy needs, the US National Library of Medicine, the Universities of Pennsylvania and North Carolina, and an independent group of developers).
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Time frame: for three days from the beginning of the study
Different images evaluation for antrolit
In addition, the visibility of antroliths detected on CBCT was also evaluated using panoramic radiographs taken from the patient (Fig 2). The detectability of antroliths in DPRs was evaluated by observers as detectable, suspicious, and undetectable.
Time frame: for three days from the beginning of the study