Prevalence of ethmoidal infraorbital cells in panoramic radiography

Satvinder Singh; Vibhuti Kaul; Rimsha Ahmed; Rudra Kaul; Sandip Rajan

Volume : VII, Issue : V, May - 2018

Prevalence of ethmoidal infraorbital cells in panoramic radiography

Satvinder Singh, Vibhuti Kaul, Rimsha Ahmed, Rudra Kaul, Sandip Rajan

Abstract :

Aim: Ethmoidal infraorbital (Haller�s) cells are extensions of ethmoid air cells into the areas of the orbit and maxillary sinus. Presence of these cells with or without disease can narrow the ethmoid infundibulum or ostium of maxillary antrum and result in persistent rhinosinusitis, recurrent sinusitis, and other clinical symptoms, so their detection in panoramic radiographs can be useful in diagnosis of the origin of these problems.A description of Haller�s cells on these radiographs may prove vital in enumerating the differential diagnosis for patients afflicted with intractable orofacial pain and reduce the risk of untoward intraoperative complications during endonasal procedures. The clinical significance of these entities and the lack of noteworthy research initiated this study with an aim to determine the prevalence and scrutinize the characteristics of Haller�s cells on panoramic radiographs.

Materials and Methods: In this descriptive cross–sectional study, 300 panoramic radiographs were examined for ethmoidal infraorbital cells. A diagnostic criteria was used to identify ethmoidal infraorbital cells on panoramic radiographs. The data were analyzed by using SPSS software, descriptive statistical methods and chi square test.

Results: A total of 300 subjects were included in the study of which183 were males whereas 117were females. The prevalence of ethmoidal infraorbital cells was 24% (27.9% for males and 17.9% for females.Bilateral and unilateral ethmoidal infraorbital cells were present in equal no. of subjects.

Conclusion: This study has attempted to explore the characteristics of Haller�s cells on panoramic radiographs. Although CT–Scan has been accepted as a method for identifying this landmark, it appears that panoramic radiography canalso be used for this purpose as a simpler and cheaper method for detection of Haller�s cells.