Comparative Analysis of Maxillary Sinus Volume in Patients With Cleft Lip and Palate Versus Class III Malocclusion Patients Using CBCT

Objectives This study compared maxillary sinus volume (MSV) in patients with unilateral non‐syndromic cleft lip and palate (CLP) to a skeletally matched control group with a skeletal class III pattern (group CTR) using cone‐beam computed tomography (CBCT) images. Materials/Methods Ninety CBCT images were evaluated, including 45 patients with unilateral CLP (group CLP, mean age 24.3 ± 6.1) and 45 patients with Class III malocclusion (group CTR, mean age 25.3 ± 5.9). Both groups were skeletally matched based on SNA, SNB, ANB, GoGn‐SN angles and Wits appraisal values. MSV was measured using ITK‐SNAP software. The Kolmogorov–Smirnov test confirmed normal data distribution. Intergroup comparisons of average MSV, MSV stratified per side, cephalometric parameters and gender differences were performed using Student's t ‐test. Intragroup comparisons (cleft vs. non‐cleft side, right vs. left side) were conducted using a paired t ‐test. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results No statistically significant differences in average MSV were found between the CLP group (7589.74 ± 4060.23 mm 3 ) and the CTR group (7901.90 ± 3667.69 mm 3 ) ( p = 0.59). However, within the CLP group, the MSV on the cleft side (6870.53 ± 3695.29 mm 3 ) was significantly smaller than on the non‐cleft side (8308.96 ± 4316.53 mm 3 ) ( p < 0.05). No significant gender differences regarding MSV values were found ( p > 0.05). Conclusions Unilateral cleft lip and palate resulted in a significantly smaller MSV on the cleft side in CLP patients. However, the average MSV of CLP patients was not significantly reduced compared to non‐cleft patients with a skeletal Class III pattern.