Mucocele of the Maxillary Sinus

A MUCOCELE is rarely found in the maxillary sinus,1although mucoceles of the sphenoid, ethmoid, and frontal sinuses are not uncommon. For this reason our case of a large mucocele limited to the maxillary sinus is being reported. REVIEW OF LITERATURE The etiology of this condition is still somewhat obscure. Almost all the literature deals with mucoceles involving either the ethmoid or the frontal sinus. Obstruction from trauma or inflammation has been described as the most likely cause. Salinger2in 1945 reviewed a case reported by Vetter of a mucocele of the frontal sinus probably caused by trauma. The patient was struck a severe blow over the root of the nose and a mass developed within a year, but rapid growth did not occur until 17 years later. On exposure the cyst was found to contain thin, greenish fluid and no communication with the nasal cavity was discovered.