Variations of Frontal Sinus and Sphenoid Sinus Pneumatization in Patients with Cleft Lip and Palate: A CBCT Study

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the frontal sinus and sphenoid sinus pneumatization and variations in patients with Cleft Lip and Palate (CLP) on Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) images and to compare them with a control group. Methods: In order to evaluate the sphenoid sinus types, CBCT images of 59 patients with CLP and 59 non-cleft individuals and for evaluation of the frontal sinus types, CBCT images of 31 subjects with CLP and 31 non-cleft individuals were obtained. The main types of frontal sinus pneumatization (types 1, 2, and 3) and the main types of sphenoid sinus pneumatization (conchal, presellar, sellar and post-sellar) were analyzed in CLP and control groups. The two groups were compared using chi-square test. Results: For sphenoid sinus, the sellar and post-sellar types were the most common types in the CLP group and the control group, respectively. The results revealed no significant difference between the CLP group and the control group regarding all types of sphenoid sinus pneumatization. Type 2 was the most common type of frontal sinus pneumatization in both CLP and control groups. The results demonstrated no significant difference between the CLP and control groups regarding all types of frontal sinus pneumatization. Conclusion: The results showed no significant difference between the CLP and control groups regarding the types of frontal sinus and sphenoid sinus pneumatization, proposing a similar risk of consequences in the CLP group and non-cleft individuals.