Rare diseases of the maxillary sinus

Background Silent sinus syndrome (SSS), organized hematoma (OH), and pneumosinus dilatans (PD) are rare, usually unilateral diseases of the maxillary sinus. Due to misinterpretation, excessive diagnostics and unnecessarily aggressive surgery or a delay in diagnostics and treatment are common. Objective The objective of this study was to develop reasonable and comprehensible diagnostic criteria to improve diagnosis and treatment of these rare diseases. Methods In this retrospective study, all patients treated for SSS, OH, and PD from 2012 to 2019 were identified. Patient history, diagnostic tests and results, and postoperative course were analyzed and compared with the available literature. Results During the study period, 7 patients with SSS, 3 patients with PD, and 2 patients with OH were treated and available for follow-up. Comparison of these patients with the literature allowed us to develop diagnostic criteria. Conclusion Medical history combined with endoscopic and radiologic criteria should improve preoperative diagnosis of these three rare diseases of the maxillary sinus and help to distinguish them from other differential diagnoses. This approach should minimize morbidity for the patients.