Maxillary sinus pathology in 119 patients--a histopathologic study.

INTRODUCTION

Information on histopathological changes within sinus mucosa is lacking, both in the general population, and in subjects with specific facial morphology and chronic respiratory obstruction.

AIMS AND

OBJECTIVES

To provide baseline data of the frequency and nature of pathological changes in the maxillary sinus in a specified group of patients.

METHODS

119 patients undergoing elective maxillary osteotomies were selected. These included patients with (70) and without (49) vertical maxillary excess (VME), and mouth and nasal breathers. The frequency and nature of the histopathological changes within the maxillary antral lining were recorded.

RESULTS

Patients ranged from 13 to 47 years, with a M:F ratio of 1:2.4. The findings included congestion (95%), submucosal oedema (90%), retention cysts (26%), true polyps (4.6%) and inflammation. There was eosinophilia (68%), basement membrane thickening (28%), goblet cell hyperplasia (95%) and dystrophic calcification (59%).

CONCLUSIONS

A significant degree of sinus pathology was found in this specified group of patients. This was probably due to their living in a polluted urban environment. In the presence of such widespread pathological changes and the virtual impossibility of obtaining "normal" control tissue, investigators may find it impossible to correlate maxillary sinus pathology with either facial form or breathing pattern.