Cone-Beam Computed Tomography Evaluation of Haller Cells in Adults

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of Haller cells (HC) using conebeam computed tomography (CBCT) and to assess their association with age and sex in an adult population. Methods: Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images obtained from the archives of the Department of Dentomaxillofacial Radiology at Istanbul University between December 2015 and December 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. A total of 626 adult patients were included in the study. All scans were acquired using the Soredex Scanora 3D-X system (Tuusula, Finland) with various field-of-view configurations. On CBCT evaluation, air cells located lateral to the maxillary sinus ostium, inferior to the ethmoid bulla, and beneath the orbital floor were classified as HC. Results: Haller cells were identified in 48 of 626 patients, corresponding to a prevalence of 7.7%. Haller cells (HC) prevalence was 5.6% in females and 9.7% in males, and this difference was statistically significant (χ² = 7.56, P = .006). Patients with HC were significantly older than those without the variation (49.3 ± 13.8 vs. 42.7 ± 14.7 years). The age difference remained significant in both parametric (t = 3.57, P = .0004) and non-parametric analyses (Mann–Whitney U test; P = .0015). Conclusion: Haller cells were observed in approximately 8% of the adult population and showed significant associations with both age and sex. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) proved to be a reliable and detailed imaging modality for identifying sinonasal anatomical variations, underscoring its value in clinical assessment and preoperative planning.