양측 전두동의 공동 배출로: 증례 2예를 통한 이해

Abstract

Primary pneumatization of the frontal bone occurs in the first year of life, but further pneu-matization continues until 18 years of age. Elongation of the ethmoidal infundibulum andfrontal recess, or upwards migration of the anterior ethmoidal cells has been proposed as amechanism of frontal sinus development. The frontal sinus drainage pathway is displaced inthe anterior or posterior direction depending on the pneumatization pattern of the frontoeth-moidal cells. Also, frontal sinuses can be connected to the infundibulum or directly to themiddle meatus depending on the superior attachment pattern of the uncinate process. Bilateralfrontal sinuses are separated by their bony septum, and thus have their own drainage path-ways. Contrary to this general rule, we experienced two cases of frontal sinuses that wereconnected to each other, showing a single drainage pathway from both frontal sinuses. We re-port these two cases along with a literature review.