Maxillary sinus aplasia.

PURPOSE: A case of unilateral aplasia is reported. Associated anatomical anomalies and review of the literature is described, and a comparison with maxillary sinus hypoplasia is made.

PATIENT: A 40-year-old male was complaining of an esthetic "defect" in his face. There was an antero-posterior depression in the left infraorbital region. Computed tomography showed absence of the left maxillary antrum, uncinate process, and maxillary infundibulum. The ipsilateral orbit was increased in volume inferiorly, and the inferior margin was immediately adjacent to the root of the inferior turbinate. The left inferior and middle turbinate was hyperplastic. The nasal septum was a little dislocated to the ipsilateral side. There was no history of antecedent sinusitis or surgery, and no evidence of systemic disease. An appositional en bloc autogenous bone graft was placed on the left infraorbital depression.

CONCLUSIONS

With precise computed tomography assessments, a maxillary sinus hypoplasia or aplasia can be diagnosed and distinguished from other maxillary sinus anomalies, and may help the surgeon to plan his surgical procedure and identify the limits of dissection accordingly. The condition can also "cause" an esthetical deficit in the infraorbital/zygomatic region, which can be resolved with an appositional graft.