Maxillary sinus vascularization: a cadaveric study

The goal of this study was the investigation of the arterial blood supply to the maxillary sinus to give clinicians the basis for a better understanding of the origin of vascular complications that can derive from surgical procedures at this level. The study consisted of 30 sinuses from 15 human cadavers with an age range of 59 to 90 years. To define the complex vascularization of the maxillary sinus, the afferent vascular network was injected with liquid latex mixed with red india ink through the external carotid arteries. An intraosseous anastomosis between the dental branch of the posterior superior alveolar artery, also known as alveolar antral artery, and the infraorbital artery was found in 100% of cases. Such an anastomosis seemed to guarantee the blood supply to the sinus membrane, to the periosteal tissues, and especially to the anterior lateral wall of the sinus. Moreover, the gingival branch of the posterior superior alveolar artery was found to anastomose an extraosseous branch of the infraorbital artery in 10 sinuses. The examination of the maxillary sinus also showed a close anatomic relationship among the sinus posterior wall, the descending palatine artery, and the sphenopalatine artery in all 30 sinuses. Small branches deriving from the posterior lateral nasal arteries have been found to perforate the nasal wall laterally and reach the mucosa of the maxillary sinus. A sound knowledge of the maxillary sinus vascularization is essential to prevent vascular complications during surgical operations involving this region.