Silent sinus syndrom

Abstract

Silent sinus syndrom is rare and slow progressive disorder associated with asymptomatic chronic maxillary sinusitis and collapse of the orbital floor. The most common manifestations are enophtalmos, hypoglobus and pseudoretraction upper eyelid. Silent sinus syndrome is almost a unilateral condition and is usually diagnosed in patients in their 30´s and 40´s. The largest risk factors is underlaying aberrant nasal anatomy. The subsequent osteomeatal complex obstruction leads to hypoventilation of the maxillary sinus and negative pressure development. The sinus cavity is filed with a combination of mucus and acellular transudate. This proces create a chronic mucosal inflammation with de-mineralization and collapse of the orbital floor. CT imaging is pathognomonic and shows ipsilateral maxilar sinusitis and the orbital floor is inferiorly displaced. The differential diagnosis includes chronic sinusitis, osteomyelitis, malignat sinus infiltration and orbital trauma. The endoscopic antrostomy is the gold standard to re-establish normal sinus aeration. In this article we describe patient with silent sinus syndrome, who has been treated at our clinic and his symptoms were corrected ad integrum after the surgery.