Cholesterol granuloma of the maxillary sinus encountered during floor augmentation procedure: A case report.
BACKGROUND
Cholesterol granuloma (CG) is a foreign-body reaction to the deposition of cholesterol crystals. Its occurrence in the paranasal sinuses is very rare.


OBJECTIVE
This report describes a new case of maxillary sinus CG discovered incidentally during sinus-floor augmentation for dental implant placement in a 60-year-old female patient.


METHODS
The preoperative clinical and radiological examinations revealed a normal maxillary antrum with no evidence of sinus pathology. After lateral osteotomy, a dark-green, viscous soft tissue mass appeared through the thin mucous membrane inside the sinus. Enucleation and curettage of the sinus contents including the sinus membrane were performed for histopathologic analysis. The augmentation and implant placement procedures were postponed.


RESULTS
Histopathologic analysis showed several fragments of granulation tissue containing diffuse cholesterol clefts surrounded by mixed chronic inflammatory cell infiltrate including plasma cells and lymphocytes. These features were compatible with the diagnosis of CG. The patient was followed up for 3 months after the first procedure, and a second attempt of sinus augmentation and dental implant insertion was then carried out. The inserted dental implants were followed up for 6 months without any complications.


CONCLUSIONS
CG of maxillary sinus can be an incidental finding. For this reason, the final diagnosis can only be achieved after examination of the material under the microscope.
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology and Periodontology, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan. abukrky@yahoo.com
Ashraf Abu
AA
Karaky
Faleh A
FA
Sawair
Zaid H
ZH
Baqain
Yazan
Y
Hassona
Ameen
A
Khraisat
D000540:Alveolar Ridge Augmentation / Q000379:methods*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005549:Foreign-Body Reaction / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006099:Granuloma / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D008443:Maxillary Sinus / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D013516:Oral Surgical Procedures, Preprosthetic / Q000379:methods; D010254:Paranasal Sinus Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D002784:Cholesterol