1995 Volume 44 Issue 4 Pages 674-683
Postoperative maxillary cyst (POMC) has been studied extensively while little attention has been given to long-term follow up and healing evaluation.
Paying attention to this situation, the present study was conducted on 26 patients (31 sites) operated on more than 5 years ago for postoperative evaluation based on radiographic data including computed to-mography (CT). The postoperative course was assessed based on clinical scores.
Fiberscopic observation of the nasoantral window was made and the results were compared with CT findings.
The results of this study are as follows.
1. The postoperative maxillary sinus was of 4 types based on CT findings. There were 4 bony fill sinuses (type I), 10 air-containing residual cavities (type II), 13 soft tissue maxillary sinuses (type III), and 4 recurrent cases of cyst formation (type IV).
2. In 9 type III patients, the nasoantral window remained open (type III-1), but was closed in 4 patients (type III-2).
3. The nasoantral window was judged open or closed based on CT findings ; in 7 cases, this was not possible by nasopharyngeal fiberscopic observation.
4. Clinical scores based on 10 items (3 subjective symptoms and 7 objective symptoms) was very useful for making postoperative evaluation, because recurrent cases could be distinguished from the other types.
5. The bony fill maxillary sinus required more than 8 years to form.
