Serrated Inferior Turbinate Variation and Sinonasal Findings on CBCT

July 28, 2026 updated by: DİLARA NİL GÜNAÇAR, Recep Tayyip Erdogan University Training and Research Hospital

Evaluation of the Relationship Between Serrated Inferior Turbinate Variation, Maxillary Sinus Mucosal Thickness, and Sinonasal Anatomical Structures Using Cone-Beam Computed Tomography

regulate nasal airflow, humidify and filter inspired air. Serrated inferior turbinate is a rare anatomical variation characterized by an irregular, serrated appearance of the inferior turbinate bone. Although this variation has been described in radiological studies, its possible relationship with maxillary sinus mucosal changes and other sinonasal anatomical features remains unclear.

This retrospective observational study aims to evaluate the relationship between serrated inferior turbinate variation and maxillary sinus mucosal thickness, mucosal abnormalities, and other sinonasal anatomical structures using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images.

CBCT images obtained from patients who underwent imaging for routine diagnostic purposes will be retrospectively reviewed. The presence of serrated inferior turbinate variation, maxillary sinus findings, inferior turbinate measurements, and nasal septum characteristics will be evaluated.

The study aims to improve understanding of the radiological significance of serrated inferior turbinate variation and to provide information that may contribute to more accurate evaluation and reporting of sinonasal anatomical variations.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

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Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

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Detailed Description

The nasal cavity contains several anatomical structures that contribute to normal respiratory function, including regulation of airflow, filtration, humidification, and temperature control of inspired air. The inferior turbinate is a key component of the lateral nasal wall and consists of a bony framework covered by vascular mucosa. Variations in the morphology and dimensions of the inferior turbinate may influence nasal airflow and the anatomical relationship between the nasal cavity and adjacent sinonasal structures.

Serrated inferior turbinate is a rare anatomical variation characterized by irregular serrated bony contours along the medial surface of the inferior turbinate. Previous studies have mainly focused on the prevalence and morphological description of inferior turbinate variations; however, the potential association between serrated inferior turbinate variation and maxillary sinus mucosal changes has not been sufficiently investigated.

Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) provides three-dimensional, high-resolution imaging of the maxillofacial region and allows detailed assessment of bony structures, paranasal sinuses, and sinonasal anatomical variations. In this study, CBCT images will be retrospectively analyzed to determine whether the presence of serrated inferior turbinate variation is associated with changes in the ipsilateral maxillary sinus mucosa and other sinonasal anatomical parameters.

The study population will consist of individuals who underwent CBCT imaging for routine diagnostic purposes. Images will be evaluated for the presence or absence of serrated inferior turbinate variation. Additional radiological assessments will include maxillary sinus mucosal thickness, presence of polypoid mucosal thickening or retention cysts, inferior turbinate dimensions, nasal septal deviation angle, and other sinonasal anatomical findings.

All evaluations will be performed on existing CBCT datasets without additional imaging procedures or interventions. Patient confidentiality will be maintained throughout the study, and all analyses will be performed using anonymized imaging data.

The findings of this study may contribute to a better understanding of the clinical and radiological significance of serrated inferior turbinate variation and may improve the assessment and reporting of sinonasal anatomical variations in CBCT examinations.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
105

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population will consist of adult individuals aged 18-75 years who underwent cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging for routine diagnostic purposes at Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University, Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology between January 2025 and June 2026.

Existing CBCT images from the institutional radiology archive will be retrospectively reviewed. The study population will include individuals whose CBCT images provide adequate visualization of the maxillary sinuses, nasal cavity, ostiomeatal complex, and inferior turbinates for evaluation of sinonasal anatomical structures.

Patients with craniofacial anomalies, maxillofacial trauma, previous sinonasal surgery, pathological conditions affecting the evaluated anatomical structures, or CBCT images unsuitable for accurate assessment will be excluded.

The study aims to evaluate the relationship between serrated inferior turbinate variation, maxillary sinus mucosal thickness, and other sin

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Individuals aged 18-75 years.
  • Patients who underwent cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging for routine diagnostic purposes between January 2025 and June 2026.
  • CBCT images including both maxillary sinuses, nasal cavity, ostiomeatal complex, and inferior turbinates.
  • CBCT images with sufficient diagnostic quality and clearly visible anatomical boundaries for evaluation and measurements.
  • CBCT images in which the anatomical landmarks required for nasal septal deviation angle measurement (crista galli, maxillary spine, and the most deviated point of the nasal septum) can be clearly identified.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients with maxillofacial trauma, fractures, or conditions affecting the midface anatomy.
  • Patients with congenital craniofacial anomalies (e.g., cleft lip and palate) or syndromes affecting facial anatomy.
  • Patients with a history of sinonasal, inferior turbinate, or maxillary sinus surgery.
  • CBCT images with insufficient diagnostic quality, motion artifacts, or metal artifacts preventing accurate evaluation.
  • Patients with pathological lesions affecting the maxillary sinus or nasal cavity anatomy, including cysts, tumors, or aggressive inflammatory lesions.
  • CBCT findings suggestive of fungal sinusitis, including heterogeneous hyperdense contents, calcifications, bone expansion, or invasive changes.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Maxillary sinus mucosal thickness associated with serrated inferior turbinate variation
Time Frame: At the time of CBCT image evaluation
The maximum mucosal thickness of the ipsilateral maxillary sinus will be measured in millimeters (mm) on cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images and compared between sides with serrated inferior turbinate variation and sides without this variation.
At the time of CBCT image evaluation

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Presence of polypoid mucosal thickening and mucous retention cysts in the maxillary sinus
Time Frame: At the time of CBCT image evaluation
The presence or absence of polypoid mucosal thickening and mucous retention cysts in the maxillary sinus will be evaluated on CBCT images.
At the time of CBCT image evaluation

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan University Training and Research Hospital

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
July 15, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
August 15, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
August 30, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
July 28, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
July 28, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
July 31, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
July 31, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
July 28, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
July 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 2026/297

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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