The silent sinus syndrome
Cone beam computed tomography was obtained from a 60-year-old female in order to assess implant insertion sites. In clinical examination, a mild facial asymmetry was detected and deviation of nasal septum to the left was apparent [Figures and ]. In regard to medical history, the patient was completely asymptomatic, with normal visual acuity, unaffected extraocular movements, no diplopia, and no obvious rhinitis. The patient reported recurrent and frequent sinusitis along with the difficulty in breathing during the last 5 years. Nasal septum deviation was diagnosed by an otolaryngologist as the main cause of the respiratory problem of the patient. The patient had no facial trauma, systemic infection, cranial malformation, or tumor. Computed tomography performed in the axial, sagittal, and coronal planes revealed a hypoplastic opacified left maxillary sinus with thinning and depression of the orbital floor and posterolateral sinus wall. The uncinate process appeared lateralized and adherent to the lamina papyracea, blocking the osteomeatal complex drainage [Figures –].