Endoscopic trans-nasal-vestibular approach to the maxillary sinus - application for mucoceles of the maxillary sinus

Endoscopic endonasal surgery has been applied to the treatment of paranasal mucoceles. The approach is, however, hard to be adopted for maxillary mucoceles when the cyst is situated in the anterior and/or lateral portion of the maxillary sinus, has a thick bony lateral wall of the inferior nasal meatus, and when the patients develop compartmentalized cysts following facial trauma or sinus operation. We devised an endoscopic approach via the vestibule of the nose to reach any part of the maxillary sinus and applied it for the treatment of postoperative maxillary mucoceles, which could not be opened following the usual endoscopic approach with favorable outcomes. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.