A RADIOGRAPHIC STUDY OF THE EXPERIMENTAL LESIONS IN THE MAXILLARY SINUS

상악동의 실험병소에 관한 X선학적 연구

The purpose of this study was to examine the differences in representation of a globular radiopaque mass on the pantomograms and Waters' views and to compare the efficacy of periapical radiograms, pantomograms and Waters' views in detection of defects on the internal walls of the maxillary sinus. This study was performed with dried human skull. For the study of difference of radiopaque mass shadow in the two views, rubber ball with a diameter of 10㎜ was used as the experimental lesion. It was placed successively on the internal wall of the anterior, posterior, medial, lateral walls and floor of the maxillary sinus. To examine the detectability of defects for radiographic techniques, defects were formed in the anterior, posterior, medial, lateral walls, and floor of the maxillary sinus. They were formed with 0.5㎜, 0.75㎜, 1.0㎜, 2.0㎜ and 3.0㎜ sized steel round burs with a slow speed dental handpiece. By subsequently plugging the holes with zinc oxide eugenol paste, radiopaque defects were produced. After that the periapical radiograms, the pantomograms and the Waters' views were taken each and every defect. The obtained results were as follows: 1. Rubber balls placed on each internal wall of the maxillary sinus were correctly depicted on the posterior wall and the floor in case of the pantomogram, and on the anterior wall and the medial wall in case of the Waters' view. 2. On the detectability of defects for each radiographic technique, radiolucent defects were detected in different places for each technique. Periapical radiogram could detect 1.0㎜ defect on the floor of the maxillary sinus, pantomogram could detect 2.0㎜ defect on every internal wall of the maxillary sinus, and Waters' view could detect 3.0㎜ defect on the anterior wall of the maxillary sinus. 3. On the detectability of defects for each radiographic technique, radiopaque defects were detected in different places for each technique. Periapical radiogram could clearly detect 0.5㎜ defect on the floor of the maxillary sinus, pantomogram could detect 0.5㎜ defect on every internal wall of the maxillary sinus, and finally Waters' view could detect 0.5㎜defect on the anterior wall of the maxillary sinus but 0.75㎜ defect on the anterior wall, lateral wall and floor of the maxillary sinus. As the result, the periapical radiogram is the most simple and satisfactory method for investigating in the maxillary sinus. The pantomogram is suitable method for screening of changes in the maxillary sinus. And the Waters' view is available for detect of lesion in the anterior wall of the maxillary sinus. For the purpose of accurate diagnosis and evaluation of lesion in the maxillary sinus, these techniques supplement each other.