Penetrating foreign body in the maxillary sinus and pterygopalatine fossa: Report of a rare case.

Abstract

Foreign bodies may present in the paranasal sinuses through a variety of traumatic and iatrogenic events. Endoscopic and open approaches have been described in literature for retrieval of the foreign bodies. We describe a case where a high velocity blunt foreign body penetrated anterior and posterior wall of maxillary sinus lying close to the internal maxillary artery. We also reviewed the two surgical approaches, endoscopic and open, for the removal of sinus foreign bodies. INTRODUCTION Foreign bodies in the para nasal sinuses are not common. Maxillary sinus foreign bodies account for about 50% of the foreign bodies in the paranasal sinuses. They can be classified as either traumatic or iatrogenic. Traumatic foreign bodies include air gun pellets, pieces of glass, stones, wood, while iatrogenic foreign bodies include whole teeth, roots of teeth, dental cement, pieces of broken forceps, impression paste, gutta percha, etc. The routes of entry are usually a) the lower eyelid, b) the lateral wall of the nose, c) the cheek, and d) the mouth. Occasionally the site of entry may be quite inconspicuous.. We present a case of penetrating foreign body in the maxillary sinus and pterygopalatine fossa.