Maxillary sinus diseases – diagnosis and differential diagnosis

The maxillary sinus is an airfilled cavity and is part of a series of paranasal sinuses and impacts most on the work of oral and maxillofacial surgeons as they will often be required to make a diagnosis in relation to inflammation, orofacial pain, tumour, etc. It could be mainly sinogenic or odontogenic in origin. Maxillary sinus diseases are often coincidentally observed on radiographs, and physicians often have to make a diagnosis and plan treatment based on the interpretation of the image. The purpose of this paper is to guide oral and maxillofacial surgeons and general practitioners through the etiology and processes of some of the diseases and clinical features involving the paranasal sinuses and in particular the maxillary sinus and to encourage comprehensive history taking and examination of the patient to facilitate an accurate diagnosis that will enable successful treatment.