ACQUIRED MAXILLARY SINUS HYPOPLASIA - A CONSEQUENCE OF ENDOSCOPIC SINUS SURGERY

The effects of functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) on sinus and midfacial development remain unclear. The authors report five childre n who, at a median age of 30 months, underwent FESS for refractory sin usitis. Three of the children had cystic fibrosis, and two had asthma. Preoperative computed tomographic (CT) scanning showed symmetric maxi llary sinus development with varying degrees of mucosal disease. At a mean of 42 months after surgery, CT scans were obtained to evaluate re current symptoms in the five children. The scans showed unilateral max illary hypoplasia in four children and bilateral maxillary sinus hypop lasia ire one child. No child had clinically apparent facial asymmetry or midfacial hypoplasia. The authors also discuss the factors involve d ha maxillary sinus pneumatization, the possible effects of sinus sur gery on sinus development, and the clinical implications of ''acquired '' maxillary sinus hypoplasia.