Congenital maxillary sinus cholesteatoma

Cholesteatoma of the paranasal sinuses is a rare condition. The purpose of this paper is to present a child with a congenital maxillary sinus choleste atoma. An 18-month-old girl presented with a 4-week history of right cheek and intraoral swelling. Examination revealed a smooth swelling of the right hard palate in association with the facial swelling in the maxillary regio n. An inferior meatal antrostomy revealed pultaceous debris in the right ma xillary antrum and biopsy confirmed a maxillary sinus cholesteatoma. The in ferior meatal antrostomy was enlarged to allow exteriorisation of the disea se. Recurrence of the disease has not presented on follow-up. An exterioris ation procedure as performed, in child of this age, allows normal facial gr owth. If recurrence develops then further treatment may be instituted in a more mature facial skeleton. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rig hts reserved.