Special radiologic imaging of paranasal sinuses. A prerequisite for functional endoscopic sinus surgery.

Endoscopic diagnosis and surgery of inflammatory diseases of the lateral nasal wall and the paranasal sinuses require a very detailed preoperative knowledge of the individual anatomical conditions and pathological changes. Pluridirectional tomography and computed tomography are used best to visualize this region. The complicated radiologic anatomy of the lateral nasal wall together with the most important anatomical variations are demonstrated and the underlying pathophysiologic principles of chronic recurrent sinusitis are discussed.