Cholesterol granuloma in the maxillary sinus

Cholesterol granuloma of the maxillary sinus in association with a dental implant-A case report

BACKGROUND

Cholesterol granuloma is typically a benign granulomatous growth seen mostly in the mastoid process and the petrous temporal bone. Although cholesterol granuloma in maxillary sinus was first reported in the scientific literature in 1978, the occurrence is very rare and it is usually clinically and radiographically manifested ambiguously as maxillary sinusitis.

PURPOSE

The presence of cholesterol granuloma in the maxillary sinus in association with a dental pathology or prosthesis has been scarcely known. In this case report, we present a case of cholesterol granuloma in the maxillary sinus of a middle-aged male who had previously undergone dental implant placement in relation to that anatomical location.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A 64-year-old man reported to the Dental OP with a chief complaint of oral malodor, swelling, and tenderness over the right middle third of the face for the past 3 months. A cone beam computed tomography scan showed a well-defined radio-opaque lesion along with sclerosis and thinning of bone within the right maxillary antrum in relation to the dental implant placed in the 16 regions. The left maxillary sinus appeared normal. The Caldwell-Luc procedure was performed and a solitary soft lesion with yellowish-gray contents was evident within the right maxillary sinus. Histopathological examination revealed cholesterol clefts surrounded by foreign body giant cell reaction and granulation tissue formation, along with the presence of old and recent hemorrhage. A final diagnosis of cholesterol granuloma was made based on the histopathological examination report.

CONCLUSION

Based on the evidence available in the present case, we hypothesize that the localized trauma and hemorrhage initiated by implant placement in this particular anatomical location could have plausibly resulted in the occurrence of cholesterol granuloma in our patient.

Paranasal sinus cholesterol granuloma: systematic review of diagnostic and management aspects

BACKGROUND

Cholesterol granuloma (CG) is an expansile, cystic lesion most commonly observed in the temporal bone. CG is rarely encountered in the paranasal sinuses. Given its paucity in this region, the diagnostic and management aspects remain to be elucidated.

METHODS

Systematic review of the literature yielded 66 cases reported as individual data in 37 articles; an additional 69 cases were reported as aggregate data in 5 case series.

RESULTS

The mean age of the 135 patients was 43.8 years, with a male:female ratio of 5.6:1. The most common presenting symptoms were orbital (66%), followed by headaches (19.3%). The most common location for CG was the frontal sinus (60%), followed by maxillary (34.1%) and ethmoid (3.7%) sinuses. Computed tomography (CT) imaging was used in 84 patients (63.3%), with bone erosion being noted in 80% of cases. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was reported in only 9 cases (6.7%); high signal on T1- and T2-weighted images was evident in 77.8% and 66.7%, of cases respectively. Surgical data was available on 65 cases; drainage was achieved by open and endoscopic techniques in 52 (80%) and 13 (20%) cases, respectively. Primary symptom improvement and CG cavity patency was achieved in 92% of cases at a mean follow-up of 34.5 months.

CONCLUSION

Paranasal sinus CG is most commonly observed in middle-aged males, arises in the frontal sinus, and typically presents with orbital symptoms. Both open and endoscopic techniques can be used with high success rate. The present study represents the first attempt in the literature to construct a clinical profile of this rare entity.

Cholesterol granuloma of the maxillary sinus encountered during floor augmentation procedure: A case report

BACKGROUND

Cholesterol granuloma (CG) is a foreign-body reaction to the deposition of cholesterol crystals. Its occurrence in the paranasal sinuses is very rare.

PURPOSE

This report describes a new case of maxillary sinus CG discovered incidentally during sinus-floor augmentation for dental implant placement in a 60-year-old female patient.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The preoperative clinical and radiological examinations revealed a normal maxillary antrum with no evidence of sinus pathology. After lateral osteotomy, a dark-green, viscous soft tissue mass appeared through the thin mucous membrane inside the sinus. Enucleation and curettage of the sinus contents including the sinus membrane were performed for histopathologic analysis. The augmentation and implant placement procedures were postponed.

RESULTS

Histopathologic analysis showed several fragments of granulation tissue containing diffuse cholesterol clefts surrounded by mixed chronic inflammatory cell infiltrate including plasma cells and lymphocytes. These features were compatible with the diagnosis of CG. The patient was followed up for 3 months after the first procedure, and a second attempt of sinus augmentation and dental implant insertion was then carried out. The inserted dental implants were followed up for 6 months without any complications.

CONCLUSIONS

CG of maxillary sinus can be an incidental finding. For this reason, the final diagnosis can only be achieved after examination of the material under the microscope.

Presence of cholesterol granuloma in the maxillary and ethmoid sinuses

INTRODUCTION

Although cholesterol granuloma associated with chronic middle ear disease is shown to be common in the mastoid antrum and air cells of the temporal bone (Leon et al., Arch Pathol Lab Med 126:217-219, 2002), its presence in the maxillary and ethmoid sinuses is rarely encountered. There are few cases reported regarding the incidence of cholesterol granuloma in these sinuses (Ko et al., Am J Otoryngol 27:370-372, 2006).

CASE

Here, we report a case of concomitant cholesterol granuloma in the maxillary and ethmoid sinuses of a 33-year-old man who underwent surgical excision.

DISCUSSION

Histopathological examination of the removed specimen revealed fragments of respiratory mucosa with cholesterol clefts surrounded by multinucleated foreign-body giant cells.

Cholesterol granuloma of the maxillary sinus

Cholesterol granuloma (CG) of the maxillary sinus is very rare. In this study, the searching of the literature was performed with the keywords of cholesterol granuloma and maxillary sinus. All retrieved literature were reviewed throughout to identify and analyze all individual characteristics. Two additional cases in our hospital were also included. The result showed that, in the overall 37 cases, the ratio of male to female was about 3:1. Caucasian (14/37) and Turkish (10/37) were reported more frequently. CG of maxillary sinus had an opposite sex predilection compared with the fungus balls of the maxillary sinus. In addition, the comorbidity of these two diseases was found only in one patient in the literature. These results suggested that the different mechanisms other than poor aeration of the maxillary sinus played a role in the formation of CG of maxillary sinus. The diagnosis for CG of the maxillary sinus before operation is difficult, but the clear golden yellow rhinorrhea and hemorrhagic signs may provide a good diagnostic evidence. The symptoms were vague and about half of the patients presented with non-specific symptoms. Therefore, it seemed reasonable that CG of the maxillary sinus was under diagnosed in the clinical practice. Treatment consists of complete excision via Caldwell-Luc or endoscopic approach and provides a good prognosis. Bilateral involvements are rare but possible in this disease entity.