TYPE 3 FRONTAL CELL, AN ANATOMICAL VARIATION & ITS CORRELATION WITH FRONTAL SINUSITIS: A CASE REPORT

Frontal cells are anterior ethmoidal cells that pneumatise frontal sinus outflow tract, obstructing the naso-frontal pathway. Type 3 frontal cell is a single cell that extends well into the frontal sinus upto 50 % of the sinus height in coronal CT Scan. While doing Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS) for frontal sinusitis, it gives false impression that one has reached the frontal sinus. In reality the surgeon may be in frontal cell, the cell mimics frontal sinus itself. A frequent cause of unsuccessful surgery for frontal sinusitis is failure to identify and remove cells that block frontal sinus outflow tract. Type 3 Frontal Cell is one such variant reported either singly or in combination with other frontal cells reported in several cases of chronic frontal sinusitis yet difficult to be identified. Thorough study of CT Scan PNS is must before doing any surgery for frontal sinus disease.