• Yan-xu Ma, Wen-juan Zhang, Zhi-han Yan, Jia-wei He, Xiao-jie Cheng, Yong-jiao Wang, Cheng-bing Zhang, and Lei He.
• Department of Radiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical College, Wenzhou 325000, China.
• Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi. 2013 Mar 19;93(11):816-8.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the onset of initial pneumatization of paranasal sinuses with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and provides references in the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric paranasal sinuses disease.MethodsThe MRI images of paranasal sinuses were retrospectively reviewed for 799 children of 0 month to 15 years old and the first pneumatization time of paranasal sinuses were analyzed.ResultsThe ethmoidal sinuses was the first pneumatized in 100% (46/46) of newborn children. And 45.7% (21/46) of maxillary sinuses showed pneumatization during the first month of life and 97.8% (45/46) were pneumatized at 7 - 12 months. The pneumatized sphenoid sinuses was first identified as early as 4 months. And 86% (43/50) were pneumatized from 1 to 2 years old. Frontal sinuses was the last pneumatized paranasal sinuses. And 8% (4/50) of frontal sinuses were pneumatized at 1 - 2 years old and 97.8% (42/43) showed pneumatization at 14 - 15 years old.ConclusionMRI may be used to observe the pneumatization of paranasal sinuses. The initial pneumatization time of paranasal sinuses is earlier than previously described.

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