A clinical study of cysts arising from mucosa of the maxillary sinus

Panorex radiographs taken during the past 5 years at the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry were reviewed for evidence of mucosal cysts of the maxillary sinus. Thirteen patients with this lesion were recalled for re-evaluation of their status. Ten of the patients had symptoms that could be related to the involved sinus. These included stuffiness, fullness, postnasal drip, gushing of yellow fluid from the nose, and headache. Radiographic examination revealed that three of the cysts had increased is size, three had decreased in size, three had not changed in size, and two had disappeared; no evaluation could be made on two. On the basis of radiographic, transillumination, history, and clinical findings, the nine cysts that could be evaluated were diagnosed as being of the nonsecretory type of mucosal cyst. We recommended periodic radiographic examination for this type of lesion. Surgical intervention is necessary only if destruction of surrounding bone has occurred or recurrence of disturbing symptoms is reported.