An airgun projectile in the maxillary sinus of an adult: a case report

Abstract

Gunshots with non-powder weapons are relatively common in children, and most of them occur unintentionally. This paper describes the second known case of an adult male in whom a shot from an airgun resulted in the presence of a projectile within the maxillary sinus. A 47-year-old man was shot inadvertently about 10 years earlier and was asymptomatic at the time of reporting. The presence of a foreign body detected on a routine orthopantomogram was confirmed by a medical interview and a three-dimensional radiological examination. The pellet located in the right maxillary sinus was removed from intraoral access through the anterior wall of the sinus. The course of the surgical procedure was complicated by the projectile dislocation in relation to the position determined by radiological examinations. Postoperative care and a 4-year follow-up period were uneventful. The maxillary sinus may be considered a favorable location for a persistent projectile, which may reside in the maxillofacial region asymptomatically for many years. The foreign body may move loosely in the maxillary sinus, which should be taken into account when planning an operation.