Morphometry of Sphenoidal and Maxillary Sinuses in Sickle Cell Anaemia Subjects in Port Harcourt: A Radiological Study

Sickle cell anaemia (SCA) subjects have been widely reported to present with various anthropometric deficits compared to their unaffected counterparts. This prospective comparative anatomo-radiological study was carried out to determine whether there are differences in the morphometry of the sphenoid and maxillary sinuses between SCA and non-SCA (control) subjects, and also the standard values of the sphenoid and maxillary sinuses of SCA subjects in Port Harcourt. Plain radiographs of the paranasal sinuses (occipitofrontal, occipitomental and lateral views) of 129 non-SCA subjects (72 males and 57 females) sourced from the film library of 3 different hospitals, and 34 SCA subjects (24 males and 10 females) were exposed at the Radiology Department of the University of Port Harcourt teaching hospital (UPTH). Following ethical clearance, the radiological dimensions of the sphenoid sinus (height, HTS and anteroposterior length, APS), the maxillary sinus (height, HTM, anteroposterior length, APM, right width, WDRM and left width, WDLM) were measured using a millimeter rule. The data were analysed using Z-test. The mean value for the height of sphenoid sinus for non- SCA and SCA males, were 15.08+3.50 and 16.42+ 4.92. it was observed that there were no significant differences between the height of sphenoid sinus for non- SCA and SCA males(P0.05). The mean value for the height of sphenoid sinus for non- SCA and SCA females males, were 16.02+ 4.42 and 15.90+ 4.43. It was also observed that there were no significant differences between the height of sphenoid sinus for non- SCA and SCA females (P0.05). The mean value for the height of maxillary sinus for non- SCA and SCA males, were 28.15+ 7.12 and 29.08+7.48. It was observed that there were no significant differences between the height of maxillary sinus for non- SCA and SCA males (P0.05). The mean value for the height of maxillary sinus for non- SCA and SCA females males, were 29.09+6.95 and 28.60+10.57. It was also observed that there were no significant differences between the height of maxillary sinus for non- SCA and SCA females (P0.05). It was also observed in this study, that there were no significant differences between the maxillary sinus width of the sickle cell anaemia subjects and the normal subjects (P0.05). However the mean values of the dimensions of the maxillary sinus was higher in the SCA subjects. This study has provided reference data for the sphenoid sinus and maxillary sinus morphometry of sickle cell anaemia subjects.

Key Words: Sickle Cell Anaemia (SCA), anthropometry, radiology, Paranasal Sinuses