Surgical intervention in the posterior maxillary region requires detailed knowledge of maxillary sinus anatomy and the possible anatomical variations. This study evaluated the incidence, location of maxillary sinus septa by using radiographic (panoramic radiography and computed tomography) findings and comparison of panoramic radography with CT in antral anatomical variation.

This study was based on data from 70 sinuses in partial dentate maxilla. The sample consisted of 61 patients(25 women and 36 men, with ages ranging between 19 and 77 years and a mean age of 49.4±11.3 years) who were being treatment-planned to receive implant-supported restorations. First, the panoramic images were examined for the presence of antral septa by radiologist and examiner who don't know about CT findings. And incidence of antral septa was evaluated using an axial plane of CT image. The incidence of septa was compared between panoramic radiography and CT. The accuracy of the incidence was compared between radiologists and dentists.

A total of 20 septa were found in 70 sinuses on CT image and the prevalence of one or more septa per sinus was found to be 28.6%. The assumed incidence of septa on panoramic radiography was 27.6%±2.2% in radiologist and 31.9%±5.8% in dentists. Erroneous diagnosis rate was 11.42% in radiologist and 15.96% in dentists.

40% of antral septa were located in the anterior(premolar) region, 30% of septa were located in the middle(first molar) and posterior(second molar) region separately.

Prior to implant placement, it seems appropriate to consider panoramic radiography as a standard radiographic examination and periapical radiographs may be used to complete the findings in regions not sharply depicted in the panoramic radiograph. And cross-sectional imaging should be used in sites with severe bone loss and close proximity of the maxillary sinus.