Normal and Pathologic States of Reconstructed Sagittal CT images in the Maxilla using 64 Multi-detector CT

The purposes of this study were 1) to depict normal and pathologic states in reconstructed sagittal images of the maxilla, and 2) to assess how much additional information could be gained by the routine use of sagittal images. In normal subjects, we made a comparison between sagittal and axial images of ten anatomical structures in the maxilla among 100 CT images and analyzed the data with Mann-Whitney's U-test. A pathologic study of 50 cases included 25 cases of odontogenic maxillary sinusitis, 7 pleomorphic adenomas, 10 postoperative maxillary cysts, and 8 nasopalatine duct cysts. We made a comparison between axial and sagittal images regarding the position and extent of the pathological lesions. In the result of normal subjects, the diagnostic value of sagittal images for assessment of the maxilla was statistically significant for 9 of 10 anatomical structures in the maxilla. In the pathologic study, the sagittal images showed lesions in the maxilla of all 50 patients. Sagittal images were superior to axial images for observing the relationship between these lesions and the maxilla. In conclusion, this study has shown that reconstructed sagittal CT images add diagnostic information to that obtained from axial images. Reconstructed sagittal images are therefore recommended as a supplement to axial plane CT imaging in the evaluation of lesions in the maxilla.