الفهرس 
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Abstract
The maxillary sinus may be the most common surgically approached sinus. The degree of its pneumatization is extremely variable among individuals.
Despite the advances in endoscopic sinus surgery and the instrumentations used by the sinus surgeon, some anatomical parts of the paranasal sinuses represent surgical challenge to the surgeon. The anterior part of the maxillary sinus is an example of these sites.
Many techniques are available to access anterior maxillary sinus lesions, each has its advantages and limitations.
The prelacrimal recess approach is a relatively new techniques used to access the anterior and anteromedial parts of the maxillary sinus by removing part of its medial wall anterior to the NLD with preservation of both the NLD and the inferior turbinate. Thus, avoiding most of the complications of the other available techniques.
The degree of pneumatization of the maxillary sinus is variable, and studying it is important before doing the prelacrimal recess approach. The aim of our study was to delineate the variability of the degree of pneumatization of the maxillary sinus prelacrimal recess and to clarify how it affects accessing it via the prelacrimal recess approach.
The Computed Tomography scans of the nose and paranasal sinus of 50 patients were analyzed to measure three dimensions of the prelacrimal recess of the maxillary sinus (anteroposterior, vertical and transverse)
According to our study; 62% of studied maxillary sinuses (100 sides) had a prelacrimal recess of an anteroposterior dimension > 3 mm making the prelacrimal recess surgically accessible, while 38% had an anteroposterior dimension of </= 3 mm making the prelacrimal recess approach in these cases technically difficult. There were 21 maxillary sinuses in our study having no prelacrimal recess, so alternative techniques should be considered in those patients.
The measured transverse and vertical dimensions in our study correlate positively with the anteroposterior dimension of the prelacrimal recess. Hence, the anteroposterior dimension can be used reliably as a tool to measure the degree of pneumatization of the prelacrimal recess.
There was no significant difference in anteroposterior dimensions between sexes and no significant correlation between anteroposterior dimension and age. Similarly, no significant difference between the right and left sides of the studied maxillary sinuses.