Paranasal sinus volumetry with system FOTOM08 Plus

Abstract

Knowledge of the PNS development, anatomy and volume is crucial for managing pathologies of this area. Computed tomography (CT) focused on the bone anatomy is the basic examination mainly prior to endoscopic surgery. The significance of the knowledge of the volume of PNS and the nasal cavity and their development lies in the great individual variability of the level of their pneumatization and actual size of the skull. A simple and user-friendly volumetry tool applicable in most of the common radiological computing programs is therefore needed.

Ten HRCT (high resolution computed tomography) scans of head were randomly chosen from the hospital radiologic database. The inclusion criteria were: adult patients above 25 years of age, presence of all the PNS, no pathology or rare developmental variants of the PNS and/or the nasal cavity obvious on the CT scan. The scans were examined by the FOTOM08 Plus software and volumes of each sinus counted.

The results were as follows: average volume of maxillary sinus 17.92 ml, frontal sinus 7.37 ml, sphenoid sinus 6.80 ml and ethmoid cells 10.00 ml. These results were comparable with the results obtained by the Osirix system.

So FOTOM08 Plus is an effective volumometric software which can easily be used to measure the volumes of the PNS even by non-medical professionals. Results obtained by FOTOM08 Plus are comparable to other volumometric tools but since it is freeware, it is easily accessible and applicable in healthcare facilities all over the world, in contrast to other systems that are expensive and often tied to a specific platform. Large amounts of data could be obtained and interpreted very easily and new norms of PNS volumes could be established.