title: Spontaneous maxillary sinus rupture in the absence of pre-existing sinus disease: case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Spontaneous fracture of the maxillary sinus is usually associated with enophthalmos and pre-existing sinus disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present a case of spontaneous maxillary sinus fracture without enophthalmos and with no preceding history of trauma or evidence of sinusitis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The closest condition to that presented is silent sinus syndrome. The differences between our case and this syndrome are reviewed. There are no previously reported cases of lateral wall maxillary fracture and associated facial surgical emphysema following nose-blowing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, Birmingham, UK. hbeaumont@doctors.org.uk
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Beaumont
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: O'Connell
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008440:Maxillary Fractures / Q000209:etiology*; D008443:Maxillary Sinus / Q000293:injuries*; D009666:Nose; D011312:Pressure / Q000009:adverse effects; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed