Head and Neck Imaging

maxillary sinus, pathology

- inflammation
Inflammatory changes are commonly seen in the maxillary sinus (see sinonasal cavities, inflammation ). In the inferior part of the maxillary sinus, reactive inflammatory changes secondary to dental pathology are common (see also oroantral fistula ). Fungal sinusitis is sometimes seen, secondary to migration of dental filling material into the maxillary sinus (see aspergillosis, head and neck )
- atelectasis, of the maxillary sinus .
- mucocele
Rarely seen in the maxillary sinus.
- antrochoanal polyp
- trauma
Direct fractures of the anterolateral maxillary wall are common; fractures of the inferior orbital rim are less common, and may be associated with a blow-out fracture . Indirect fracture of the maxillary walls is seen, for example, in blow-out fracture and Le Fort fractures .
Tumoral pathology
Maxillary neoplasms are uncommon, and patients usually present with locally advanced disease. The most frequent malignant tumour is squamous cell carcinoma. Imaging is of paramount importance in determining the extent of local tumour (see sinonasal cavities, cancer ; Ohngren's line , squamous cell carcinoma, head and neck ).

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