The gender-related volumetric side asymmetries in sphenoid sinuses and their clinical significance

Abstract

Background: The sphenoid sinus (SS) is important in neurosurgical practice because it is surrounded by numerous critical neurovascular structures. Using helical computerized tomography (CT) scanning, we investigated the gender-related volumetric asymmetric nature of the SS. Materials and methods: CT scans of SS of 49 (21 females, 28 males) patients admitted to the hospital between 1 October 2018 and 1 June 2019 were analyzed retrospectively. The volumes of SSs were calculated using a secondary reconstruction tool. Results: The mean age was 33,81 for females, 41,107 and in males patients which was not statistically significant. The mean right and left SS volume was 3,03 cm3 and 3,.57cm3 in females, but 4,28cm3 and 4,70cm3 in males, respectively. The difference in side asymmetry between men and women was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Conclusion: In this study, the gender-related side differences of the SS have been the first time reported in this study. The reason for this gender-related asymmetric size of the SSs may be related to the pneumatization process.