[Changes in paranasal sinuses during postnatal ontogenesis of inhabitants of Karelia ].

Roentgenographs of 1566 maxillary, 1404 frontal and 131 sphenoid sinuses (a total of 3101 sinuses) belonging to the practically healthy individuals of both sexes aged 3-85 years were studied to reveal the regularities of growth of paranasal sinuses in inhabitants of Karelya. It was established that the dimensions of paranasal sinuses depended upon person's age and gender. The growth of paranasal sinuses in women was completed 1.5-2.0 years earlier than in men. In persons of elderly and senile age there was a secondary increase in sinuses' dimensions, associated with osteoporosis phenomena. In women this secondary increase was more pronounced than in men and started on average 5 years earlier.