RADIOLOGIC ANATOMY H.-J. Kim H.-R. Yoon K.-D. Kim M.-K. Kang H.-H. Kwak H.-D. Park S.-H. Han C.-S. Park Personal-computer-based three-dimensional reconstruction and simulation of maxillary sinus Received: 1 February 2002 / Accepted: 6 July 2002 / Published online: 21 January 2003 Ó Springer-Verlag 2003 Abstract Anatomical descriptions of the maxillary sinus are critical in pathological diagnosis and the treatment planning of surgical procedures. This study was under- taken to develop a new technique for simulating ana- tomical structures and to clarify the morphological and clinical characteristics of the maxillary sinus. Thirty- three hemi-sectioned Korean heads were used in this study. CT scans and DentaScan reformatted cross-sec- tional images were taken on all specimens. From the CT images, three-dimensional reconstructed images were made using the V-works program. From the three-di- mensional reconstructed images of the maxillary sinus, six categories of maxillary sinus were created, catego- rized according to their lateral aspects and shapes of the inferior walls. In 55%, a flat inferior wall of the maxil- lary sinus was observed. All measurements (anterior- posterior length, height, width and volume) of the sinus were larger in males than in females. From the Denta- Scan reformatted panoramic images, the anterior limit of the maxillary sinus was located in the first premolar area (58%), and the posterior limit was in the third molar and maxillary tuberosity area (94%). We there- fore offer a new virtual technique for manipulating three-dimensional reconstructed images easily on a per- sonal computer. On the reconstructed images the three- dimensional morphology could be observed and the anatomical characteristics of the maxillary sinus and surrounding structures could be determined. The French version of this article is available in the form of electronic supplementary material and can be obtained by using the Springer Link server located at http:// dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00276-002-0058-x. Reconstruction tridimensionnelle sur ordinateur personnel et simulation du sinus maxillaire Re´ sume´ Les e´tudes anatomiques du sinus maxillaire sont importantes pour le diagnostic de sa pathologie et la planification de son abord chirurgical. Ce travail a e´te´ re´ alise´ afin de de´velopper une nouvelle technique de simulation des structures anatomiques et pour pre´ciser ainsi les caracte´ristiques morphologiques et cliniques du sinus maxillaire. 33 he´mi-sections de teˆtes de sujets core´ens ont e´te´ utilise´es. Des tomodensitome´tries et des reconstructions avec le logiciel DentaScan ont e´ te´ re´alise´es pour tous les spe´cimens. A partir des images tomodensitome´ triques, des reconstructions tridi- mensionnelles ont e´ te´ effectue´ es avec un logiciel V-works. Graˆce a` ces images tridimensionnelles, une classification des sinus maxillaires en six cate´gories, selon la forme de leur paroi infe´rieure e´tudie´e en vue late´rale, a e´te´ e´tablie. Dans 55% des cas, la paroi infe´rieure du sinus e´tait plate. Toutes les mesures (lon- gueur ante´ro-poste´rieure, hauteur, largeur et volume) du sinus e´taient plus e´leve´es chez l’homme que chez la femme. Sur les reformations panoramiques obtenues par le DentaScan, la limite ante´rieure du sinus maxillaire Surg Radiol Anat (2002) 24: 393–399 DOI 10.1007/s00276-002-0058-x The French version of this article is available in the form of elec- tronic supplementary material and can be obtained by using the Springer Link server located at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00276- 002-0058-x H.-J. Kim (&) M.-K. Kang H.-H. Kwak H.-D. Park Division in Anatomy, Department of Oral Biology, College of Dentistry, Oral Science Research Center, Brain Korea 21 Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University, 134 Shinchon-Dong, Seodaemoon-Gu, Seoul, 120-752, Korea E-mail: hjk776@yumc.yonsei.ac.kr Tel.: +82-2-3618044 Fax: +82-2-3938076 H.-R. Yoon K.-D. Kim C.-S. Park Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, College of Dentistry, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea S.-H. Han Catholic Institute of Applied Anatomy, Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, Catholic University, Seoul, Korea