The CBCT doses and radiation risk vary but remain in the lower levels of the relative risk of medical exposures.

Background and aimsTo asses, by using the Cone Beam CT (CBCT) reformatted images, the presence of anatomical variants of the sinonasal cavities and to determine the correlation of these variations with the onset of maxillary sinus inflammations.MethodThe study is a retrospective one and consists of the investigation of 130 patients with CBCT imaging, patients that were referred to the Maxillo-Facial Clinic, Radiology Department of the Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Cluj-Napoca, for clinical symptoms of sinusitis within a period of 24 months. The images were analyzed for the presence of different anatomical variations and sinus inflammation. The CBCT images were obtained using a NewTom 3G scanner and the data acquired were statistically analyzed using Chi-square test, Odds ratio data and confidence intervals, with a determined p<0.05 considered to be statistically significant.ResultsThe anatomical variants were detected both in the inflammation and control group. From the spectrum of variations concha bullosa, deviation of uncinate process and asymmetrical ethmoid roof presented significant association with sinusitis. The deviated position of the uncinate process appeared in more than 50% of patients in the positive group [OR=2.55] compared with a third of the control group. Concha bullosa was observed in 31% cases, 23% in the control group and 34% in the positive group [OR=1.73]. Haller cells showed a small difference between groups [OR=1.14] whereas the ethmoid roof asymmetry was evidently more prevalent in the inflammation group.ConclusionThe anatomical variants of the paranasal sinuses are not incidental, being found in a large number of patients and may be a predisposing factor in the onset and recurrence of sinuses inflammation. The CBCT technique, due to the finest multiplanar reconstruction, permits a very good pre-therapeutic assessment of these predisposing conditions.

The results revealed the variation of CBCT doses and the influence of FOV size in pediatric exposure.

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Background and aimThis study aims at evaluating the reliability on specific multi-planar cone beam computer tomography (CBCT) reconstruction in the orbital floor fractures.MethodsCBCT examination of the mid-face fractures area involving the floor of the orbit was performed in a number of 93 trauma patients by two independent radiologists. Both radiologists assessed the axial, coronal and sagittal sections and also the oblique coronal and sagittal extracted sections evaluating the location of the orbital fractures, its size and displacement, the involvement of the infra-orbital foramen, herniation of fat or muscle within the maxillary sinus, the overall type of the fracture and the implication of lateral or medial orbital wall. We also registered the section that provided better confidence of both examiners in visualizing the fracture of the orbit floor and the presence of herniated soft tissue, on different reformatted sectioning.ResultsThe presence of pure fracture of the orbital floor was detected in 11% of patients. The association of the orbital fractures with the zygomatic fractures was identified in the majority of the patients. In 86% of patients the displacement of the floor of the orbit was visualized, and in almost 30% of cases more than 50% of the orbital floor was involved in the fracture. Regarding the confidence between examiners, they were more confident using the oblique sagittal CBCT reformatted images for fracture detection and bone displacement evaluation, as for the soft tissue herniation the oblique coronal sections provided the highest level of confidence.ConclusionMid-face trauma involves the orbital floor in the majority of situations. CBCT allows to obtain oblique images extracted from the three dimensional (3D) data that provide high confidence level in assessing pure orbital floor fractures.