Abstract: Objective To investigate whether there is abnormal anatomy of the nasal cavity for fungal maxillary sinusitis(FMS). Methods A total of 102 individuals(204 sides)of unilateral FMS were performed coronal plane CT scanning and measured the nasal structure including nasal septum, the middle turbinate, uncinate, ethmoid bulla and Haller cell. The CT images from 89 patients were used for image processing. The percentage of cross sectional area of inferior turbinate, uncinate process and middle turbinate(PCSA)in respective nasal cavity was calculated and compared. Results The percentage of nasal septal deviation(NSD)was 85.29%. In these patients with unilateral FMS diseases, 51 had wide side of nasal cavity, 36 had narrow side(P<0.05). The number of high NSD and low NSD were similar. In patients with high NSD, the number of FMS of wide side was more than that of narrow side(P>0.05). The anatomic variation of ostiomeatal complex(OMC)was as fellows: diseased side was significantly different from the healthy side, with respect to middle concha reverse deviation, uncinate process deviation and Haller cell(P<0.05), incontrast, diseased side was insignificantly different from the healthy side, with respect to uncinate process hypertrophy, ethmoid bulla. About the PCSA, It had no significant differences between the two sides of the nasal cavity(P>0.05). Conclusion As NSD, and anatomic variation of the middle turbinate and uncinate played an important role pathogenesis of FMS. Therefore, while treating FMS, NSD, and antatomical variation of the middle turbinate and uncinate should be cleared at the same time.

Key words: Nasal septal deviation, Anatomical variation, Tomography, X-ray computed, Etiology, Fungal maxillary sinusitis