Silent sinus syndrome

Silent sinus syndrome - Case presentation

“…Kass et al 13 demonstrated in their study, comparing the pressure of the chronic maxillary atelectasis sinus with chronic maxillary sinusitis sinus and with a normal maxillary sinus, that the negative pressure is the basis of the chronic maxillary atelectasis. The negative pressure originates in the osteomeatal complex obstruction, determines bone remodeling and one of the most important signs, enophthalmos 2,6,7 . The SSS have some important characteristics; several of these represent diagnosis criteria:…”

“…Unilaterality of issues, sustained by the CT scan, 2. Absence of documented nasosinusal or orbital trauma, surgery or congenital abnormality, no history of chronic rhinosinusitis 3,4,7 , 3. Poverty in local symptoms, rarely found facial or dental pressure, diplopia, 4.…”

“…The syndrome is a rare pathology characterized by unilateral progressive enophthalmos and/or hypoglobus 4 , which consists in a unilateral painless facial asymmetry 5 , not associated with orbital trauma or surgery, nor with congenital facial asymmetry or rhinosinusitis symptoms or history 6 , but with a chronic evolution of weeks or months. The pathogenesis consists in a maxillary hypoplasia with negative maxillary pressure, determined by the obstruction of the infundibulum 7 associated with the inflammation of sinus mucosa 1 and a subsequent association of the orbital floor collapse 3 and pseudoretraction of the upper eyelid. The majority of patients, mostly in their third to fifth decades of life 7 , address firstly to the ophthalmologist and secondary to the ENT physician and the diagnosis is established clinically and imagistically 5 .…”

“…The pathogenesis consists in a maxillary hypoplasia with negative maxillary pressure, determined by the obstruction of the infundibulum 7 associated with the inflammation of sinus mucosa 1 and a subsequent association of the orbital floor collapse 3 and pseudoretraction of the upper eyelid. The majority of patients, mostly in their third to fifth decades of life 7 , address firstly to the ophthalmologist and secondary to the ENT physician and the diagnosis is established clinically and imagistically 5 . CT findings consist in the unilateral maxillary sinus opacification with or without fluid level, infundibular obstruction 8 , maxillary atelectasis and orbital floor erosion with collapse of the orbital contents 6,7 .…”

“…The majority of patients, mostly in their third to fifth decades of life 7 , address firstly to the ophthalmologist and secondary to the ENT physician and the diagnosis is established clinically and imagistically 5 . CT findings consist in the unilateral maxillary sinus opacification with or without fluid level, infundibular obstruction 8 , maxillary atelectasis and orbital floor erosion with collapse of the orbital contents 6,7 . The aim of this case report is to highlight the importance of the correct management of the SSS, starting with a suitable diagnosis.…”