Abstract
So called mucous cyst arised in the maxillary sinus is often radiographically found in clinic without any episode and considered to be unnecessary objective disorder to treat. However, this mucous cyst should be enucleated when discomfortable symptoms occur due to enlargement.
Based on this reason, preliminary procedure on enucleation of antral mucous cyst performed before or at the same time of maxillary sinus lift procedure was retrospectively discussed. Subjects were four patients with mucous cysts enucleated in our department over the ten years and ten months from August 1989 to June 2000. Our operative technique was that the mucous membrane at anterior site of the maxillary sinus was exposed, and then we made a horizontal incision line with a No.11 blade, and the mucous cyst was directly separated from the bottom of the sinus membrane. This anterior mucosal window was re-sutured, and bone or artificial materials were grafted, in the manner according to our previous report. During an average follow-up period of 52.8 months, no secondary complication, such as maxillary sinusitis or edematous swelling of mucosa, or recrrence of the mucous cyst, and no problems following placement of implants, have been observed. It seems that this technique for enucleation of a mucous cyst including deals with maxillary sinus mucosa can be extended the indication of maxillary sinus lift procedure and placement of dental implants in maxilla.
