Odontogenic Maxillary Sinusopathies: a Radiological Classification

Before implant surgery, a preoperative radiological evaluation is recommended for recognizing maxillary inflammatory conditions. In order to avoid a failure of the dental procedure and prevent medical-legal consequences, it is necessary to treat patients suffering of maxillary sinus pathologies. The classification proposed in our study aims to standardize the reference values for mucosal thickening and to verify their association with the odontogenic or disventilatory causes of sinus pathology.

The maximum mucosal thickness was measured at the level of the maxillary sinus floor: mucosal thickness was present when greater than 1 mm and was classified according to its extension within the sinus cavity.

Imaging data of 270 adult patients were included, performed for dental diagnosis and treatment planning, and they were divided into four main classes: Class I (85 pt.), mucosal thickness lesser than 2 mm, not pathological. Class II A (52 pt.), mucosal thickness between 2 and 5 mm, localized to the maxillary sinus floor: it is still considered non-pathological, and a "wait-and-see" approach is recommended. Class II B (46 pt.), mucosal thickness greater than 5 mm but localized at sinus floor: pathological mucosa with odontogenic etiology, requiring dental treatment. Class III A (39 pt.), mucosa thicker than 5 mm and concentric, most likely due to sinus ventilation disfunction: it requires maxillary antrostomy. Class III B (30 pt.), sinonasal manifestations such as nasal polyposis, retention cysts, mucocele, dental foreign body: pathological mucosa to be treated with ESS. Class IV (12 pt.), oroantral fistula: nasal endoscopic or oral approach.

Our classification intends to suggest the better therapeutic option, in case of sinus pathology, according to the entity and pathogenesis of the mucosal thickening, in order to reduce complication and failure rate of dental surgery.