Three-Dimensional Evaluation of Maxillary Sinus Volume for Adult Patients with Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate Using Cone-Beam Computed Tomography

One of the most prevalent congenital craniofacial abnormalities is cleft lip and palate (CLP), which results in a disruption in the fusion of palatal shelves and can alter the morphology of the skull, face, and maxillary sinus. This study compared the affected and healthy sides and looked at the maxillary sinus volume in patients with unilateral CLP. Additionally, it compares the maxillary sinus volumes in the cleft and control groups. Thirty cone-beam computed tomography images of individuals with unilateral CLP—seventeen of whom were female and seventeen of whom were male—were used in this cross-sectional investigation. Thirty cone-beam computed CT pictures of patients without cleft lip or palate were compared to this (control group). With Dolphin 3D software, the maxillary sinuses on each side were traced individually and examined. On each side, the maxillary sinus volume was measured. Each sinus was divided into smaller pyramids, and the volume of each was measured using the partial frustum model approach and subjected to paired t test analysis. There was a statistically significant difference between cleft and noncleft sides in terms of mean volume of the maxillary sinus ( P < 0.05). The average volume of the sinus on the cleft side was 484.53 mm3 less than the noncleft side, and this difference was statistically significant ( P = 0.023). The mean maxillary sinus volume of the cleft patients was 5350.07 mm 3 smaller than that of the noncleft patients, and this difference was statistically significant ( P < 0.01). Patients with cleft lip and palate had asymmetric maxillary sinus volumes; the cleft side had smaller maxillary sinus volumes, and the difference was statistically significant. There was also a highly significant difference in MS volume between the control group and the cleft group.