Postoperative Regeneration of the Mucous Membrane of the Paranasal Sinuses: A Summary of the Published Investigations

Endoscopic radical antrectomy: a permanent replacement for the Caldwell–Luc operation

“…The re-establishment of maxillary sinus mucosa following complete removal is still controversial, despite various studies in animals and humans. Brownell 33 stated that ‘complete regeneration of the lining of the paranasal sinuses including ciliated columnar epithelium is the rule after operative removal of the original membrane’. In contrast, Hilding 34 reported sinus obliteration with scar tissue, with only exceptional cases of partial restitution and regeneration of lining epithelium, in animal models.…”

Surgical Revision of the Post-Caldwell–Luc Maxillary Sinus

“…[8][9][10] Experimental studies have indicated that mucosal stripping leads to regeneration of mucosa that bears patchy, dysmorphic, and dyskinetic cilia. 13,14 Thus, the fact that endoscopic ostium surgery often can rehabilitate a previously stripped-and ostensibly dysfunctional-maxillary sinus is somewhat surprising. Thus, in some post-Caldwell-Luc cavities, it appears that mucociliary function may be relatively preserved despite previous en bloc removal of mucosa.…”