Cholesterol granuloma of the maxillary and frontal sinuses

5 cases of cholesterol granuloma are described, 3 within the maxillary sinuses and 2 within the frontal sinuses. The lesions arise from the mucosa and can be recognized on plain films and tomograms of the sinus as opacity, sometimes resembling a mucocele. Radical operation seems to give absolute cure without any recurrence. The pathogenesis is hemorrhage and/or filtration. The closed cavities of the paranasal sinuses provide favorable conditions for cholesterol to become dissociated from the lipoprotein complex and to precipitate and to give rise to a granulomatous reaction.