International Research Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences

Abstract

Most tumours of the maxillary sinus are silent producing no direct symptoms until they reach advanced stage. Treatment of these tumours often includes maxillectomy, with outcomes that vary depending on several factors. To highlight the clinical pattern of patients that had Maxillectomy for sinonasal tumours and the challenges of management in a Nigerian tertiary Hospital. Records were obtained from a chart review of all patients who underwent Maxillectomy for sinonasal tumour over a 10 year period. During the period, 31 patients with maxillary tumour were seen and only 11 patients underwent different forms of Maxillectomy. Three (27%) were males and 8 (73%) were females. Only four patients could afford a computed tomography scan. The common complications were postoperative epistaxis and feeding difficulty (27%) while cheek graft failure (9%) and depression (9%) were least. The challenges encountered in our facility during management include limited diagnostic equipments and treatment facilities and the fact that patients could not afford the cost of management. The challenges in the management are enormous and need to be addressed to enhance early presentation, diagnosis and better management and outcome.