Prevalence of Infraobital Ethmoid (Hallers) Air Cells on Panoramic Radiographs of Patients Older than 4 Years Referred to Dental School of Islamic Azad University Khorasgan Branch

Infraorbital ethmoid air cells are such anatomical variations may result sinusitis. CT scan is commonly used for imaging infraorbital ethmoid cells but panoramic radiographs often show infraorbital ethmoid cells. This study aim to determaine the prevalence of infraorbital ethmoid cells on panoramic radiographs in cases older than 4 years referred to Dental School of Islamic Azad University Khorasgan Branch.
In this descriptive and analytical study, 416 panoramic radiographs (235 wemen and 181 men) were examinded for infraobital ethmoid cells and were recorded hallers cell and characteristics of cell in questionnaire form. Data analysis were done by Chi-square test.
Prevalence of infraorbital ethmoid (hallers) cells on panoramic radiographs in the patients older than 4 years referred to Dental School of Islamic Azad University Khorasgan was 17.8% (14.4% for men and 20.4% for wemen). There was satisically significant differences between men and wemen. The most frequency related to the patients who were between 20-29 years old (28.3%) and the least frequent age was between 40-49 years old (13.5%), but there was no satistically significant differences in several ages. There was no relationship between taller’s cells and cell shape. 11 patients (14.9%) with hallers cell had history or symptoms of sinusitis and 4 patients (5.4%) with hallers cell had sinus disorder (retention cyst) in panoramic radiographs.
In this study, the prevalence of infraorbite ethmoid cells on panoramic radiographs was efficient for first diagnosis. Identification of hallers cells on panoramic radiographs can help dental professional to make differential diagnosis of orofcial pain of sinus origin.