Hydroceles in the maxillary antrum

Abstract

Panoramic radiographs often show a dome-type uniform shadow in the maxillary antrum that is a retention cyst that occurs in the mucosa. I investigated the clinical, biochemical and histological aspects of this lesion. In 1397 cases, I observed shadows that seemed to be hydroceles in the maxillary antrums of 89 cases (6.4%), 8 cases of which were bilateral. Since 47 of the cases were males and 42 females, there did not seem to be a significant gender difference. Thiny of the cases were on the left side, 51 on the right and 8 were bilateral. sixty-four (66%) of the cases were asymptomatic. The patients complained of buccal region discomfort in 31 (32 %) of the cases, heavy-headedness in 8 cases (8%) and tooth discomfort in 4 cases (4%). Neither dental infections and nasal allergies seemed to contribute to development of this cyst. Endoscopic examination of 65 cases revealed that 48 (74%) showed a large second aditus at meatus nasi medius and that a hydrocele could be observed in the maxillary antrum in 31 (48%) cases. there was no correlation between a large second aditus and the size of the hydrocele. A positive reaction of the Rivalta and Runeberg test revealed that the contents of the solution in the hydrocele was exudative. Bacterial examinations were all negative. Histopathological examination revealed that the maxillary antrum mucosa was normal, and that the hydrocele contained serous fluid that poored in connective tissue.