Mucosal maxillary cysts: long-term subjective outcomes after surgical treatment

Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2013 Aug;270(8):2263-6. doi: 10.1007/s00405-013-2355-x. Epub 2013 Jan 20.

Abstract

Mucosal maxillary cysts (MMCs) are usually asymptomatic and are often diagnosed as an incidental finding. The aim of this study is to assess clinical significance of MMCs and the long-term effect of surgical treatment on the symptoms initially addressed to MMCs. The study included a retrospective analysis of 64 patients who had undergone surgery for MMC using a questionnaire focused mainly on the effect surgery had on symptoms. Mean time of follow-up was 79 months. Patients were also divided and compared according to the presence of rhinitic symptoms. Twenty-six patients (63.4%) reported complete disappearance of symptoms, 8 (19.5%) reported improvement, 4 (9.7%) reported no change in symptoms following surgery and 3 (7.3%) reported that symptoms reappeared. Significantly (p = 0.0365) better results were achieved in patients without preexisting rhinitic symptoms. This study supports the opinion that in some cases, MMCs are involved in the development of sinonasal symptoms. Surgical treatment leads, in most patients, to disappearance or improvement of symptoms and the effect is better in patients without rhinitic symptoms.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Maxillary Sinus / pathology*
  • Maxillary Sinus / surgery
  • Middle Aged
  • Mucocele / complications
  • Mucocele / pathology
  • Mucocele / surgery*
  • Patient Satisfaction
  • Postoperative Complications / etiology
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Rhinitis / etiology*
  • Rhinitis / physiopathology
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Treatment Outcome