Assessment of the prelacrimal recess in different maxillary sinus pneumatizations in relation to endoscopic prelacrimal recess approaches: a computed tomography study

PurposeTo assist in planning before the endoscopic prelacrimal recess (PLR) approach, we aimed to investigate the relationship between morphometry and variations of PLR in maxillary sinus (MS) pneumatizations.MethodsRetrospective analysis of the paranasal sinus computed tomography images of 150 patients was conducted to determine the pneumatization patterns of the MS, PLR variations, and the applicability of the PLR approach. The results were compared based on lateralization, gender, and age groups.ResultsThe PLRwidth, the anteroposterior diameter of the nasolacrimal duct (NLD), the vertical and horizontal diameters of the MS were the highest in hyperplasic MS, and decreased significantly with increasing age (p = 0.005, p = 0.017, p = 0.000), respectively. Most of the morphometric measurements were higher in hyperplasic MS, while the medial wall thickness of PLR was higher in hypoplasic MS. The PLRwidth for feasibility of the PLR approach were Type I (48%) in hypoplasic MS and Type III (80%) in hyperplasic MS (p < 0.001), respectively. The PLR medial wall thickness was higher in Type I, while the piriform aperture angle (PAA), MS volume, length, and slope of the NLD were higher in Type III PLRwidth (p = 0.000), respectively. The highest anterior and separation-type variations of the PLR were observed in hyperplasic MS, whereas 31.0% of hypoplasic MS had no PLR (p < 0.001).ConclusionThis study revealed that PLRwidth and PAA were the highest in hyperplasic MS, which allows the endoscopic PLR approach to be performed more easily. For safer and uncomplicated surgery, surgeon should be aware of the PLR anatomy in different MS pneumatization patterns.