Wk 9 - Maxillary Sinus Flashcards
Describe the maxillary sinus.
Is an air cavity within the maxilla and is like a 3-sided pyramid
What are the function of air sinuses?
Bit of a mystery but may be there to lighten the bone and provide strength/ support
The sinuses are lined by what kind of epithelium?
Respiratory epithelium
Describe an infection of the maxillary sinus
-It is fairly common and pus is produced. -Pus cant be drained as the opening to the sinus is at the top -Gravity pulls the pus down and end up getting a sinus filled with infected material -Is hard to treat
Why is it likely to have an infection in the maxillary sinus if you get an infection in the frontal sinus?
As the infection from the frontal sinus will tract into the hiatus semilunaris and into the maxillary sinus
What kind of malignant change may occur in the maxillary sinus?
Columnar epitheliuym changes to a squamous form (sqamous cell carcinoma)
What are the risk factors for malignancy in the maxillary sinus?
Smoking and drinking
How do maxillary sinus malignancies tend to present?
Half present as pain in the face and other half present due to the malignancy invading the oral cavity where it is seen
What teeth might have a connection with the maxillary sinus?
Any tooth from canine back but most common connection from an upper 6
When extracting an upper 6, what might happen with regards to the maxillary sinus?
The bone between the tooth and maxillary sinus might break off creating and orolantral communication
What might be a symptom of an oro-antral communication if it is not picked up straight away?
The patient migh drink something and it comes out of their nose
What is the difference between an oro-antral communication and an oro-antral fistula?
Oro-antral fistula occurs when the communcation has been there for a while and an epithelial lining has fromed
What might you want to do before extracting an upper 6?
take a radiograph to assess how much bone is present between the root of the tooth an the maxillary sinus
Infection in the ethmoidal sinuses are less common but where is an infection in the ethmoidal sinus likely to spread to and why?
The orbit because the bone between the 2 is very thin
What is a blow-out fracture of the orbit?
If hit forcefully in the orbital region, the floor of the orbit can become raised. The contents of the orbit might leak into the maxillary sinus and the infra-orbital nerve may be involved (if so the patient will have a numb face)
