title: Patent nasopalatine duct: a diagnostic pitfall.
abstract: We describe a patient in whom the combination of excessive air in the maxillary sinus and the presence of a patent nasopalatine duct led to misdiagnosis and subsequent treatment of a non-existent oroantral perforation. When a radiograph indicates that antral involvement during removal of a maxillary molar is unlikely, and yet a routine postoperative nose-blowing test contradicts this, the possible presence of a pre-existent oronasal communication such as a patent nasopalatine duct should be considered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Academic Medical Centre and Academic Centre for Dentistry (ACTA), University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, P.O. Box 22660, 1100 DD Amsterdam, The Netherlands. mhvalstar@gmail.com
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Valstar
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: van den Akker
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000388:Air; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008443:Maxillary Sinus / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000601:surgery; D009668:Nose Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009957:Oroantral Fistula / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D021362:Palate, Hard; D014081:Tooth Extraction / Q000009:adverse effects