Association of Osteomyelitis of the Skull and Nasal Accessory Sinus Disease

This communication will discuss the cases of osteomyelitis of the skull which are found to complicate acute and chronic disease of the nasal accessory sinuses. Only cases due to infection by the ordinary pyogenic bacteria will be considered, and no case of infection by the tubercle bacillus, by the spirochete of syphilis or by Actinomyces will be included. There will be no attempt made to discuss the essential nature of disease of the nasal accessory sinuses, as that is not my subject. Only that part of it which seems necessary to the proper explanation of the mechanism by which osteomyelitis of the skull bones complicates the accessory sinus disease will be included. In considering this subject it is to be remembered that not infrequently caries and necrosis of portions of the bony walls of the nasal accessory sinuses occur as part of the pathologic process incident to sinus disease