The effect of nasal septal deviation on the volumes of the paranasal sinuses

Objectives: This study aims to determine the effect of nasal septal deviation (NSD) on the volumes of the paranasal sinuses, also considering the sex of the patients. Patients and Methods: One hundred and eighty-four patients (95 females, 89 males; mean age: 32.4±12 years; range, 17 to 69 years) with NSD were included in the retrospective study between January 2018 and March 2020. Patients were grouped according to the radiologically measured NSD angle: Group 1, <90° (mild deviation); Group 2, 90-150° (moderate deviation); Group 3, >150° (severe deviation). The volumes of the frontal, maxillary, and sphenoid sinuses on the deviated and opposite sides were calculated and compared. Results: There was no statistically significant difference between the deviated- and opposite-side volumes of the frontal, maxillary, and sphenoid sinuses of the female patients in all three groups and male patients in Groups 1 and 3 (p>0.05). Maxillary sinus volume on the deviated side was smaller than the opposite side in male patients in Group 2 (p=0.028). The frontal sinus volume on the deviated side and maxillary sinus volume on the opposite side of the male patients in Group 2 were higher than Groups 1 and 3 (p=0.046, p=0.017). Conclusion: Nasal septal deviation does not affect the volumes of the paranasal sinuses in females. Moderate NSD in males may affect the volumes of frontal and maxillary sinuses.