Comparison of frontal pneumatization patterns between Koreans and Caucasians

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of specific frontal recess cells in Korean and Caucasian populations; to evaluate and compare the relationship between anterior skull base length and frontal recess pneumatization in these two populations. Materials and methods: Frontal recess anatomy was studied with high resolution sinus CT scans obtained in 60 Korean adults and 41 Caucasian adults. None of the subjects had a history of frontal sinus disease or trauma. The anterior cranial base length (ACBL, distance between the nasion and center of the pituitary fossa) and anterior ethmoid length (AEL, distance between the nasion and upper attachment of basal lamella) was also measured on each side. Results: Supraorbital ethmoid cells were more common in Caucasians whereas suprabullar cells and recessus terminalis were more common in Koreans. The prevalence of some frontal recess pneumatization patterns (specifically supraorbital ethmoid cell, suprabullar cell, and recessus terminalis) were more commonly associated with race rather than with ACBL or AEL. Conclusion: Frontal recess pneumatization patterns differ in the Korean and Caucasian adult populations. Because corresponding differences in skull base length were not identified, these differences seem likely to reflect other factors. Such information has clinical significance for frontal recess surgery in these patient populations.