title: Maxillary sinusitis of dental origin due to oroantral fistula, treated by endoscopic sinus surgery and primary fistula closure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To present the current treatment approach for oroantral fistula causing maxillary sinusitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case series. Four cases of oroantral fistula (diameters: 6, 9, 11 and 13 mm) due to chronic maxillary sinusitis were treated by excision of all diseased oroantral fistula tissue, followed by endoscopic creation of a large middle antrostomy and closure of the fistula using buccal flaps. A synthetic surgical glue and local alveolar bone were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients were followed up for six months to three years; all were considered cured.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most surgeons use buccal or palatal flaps, combined with the Caldwell-Luc procedure, to treat chronic odontogenic sinusitis and to repair fistulae more than 5 mm in diameter. This study supports the hypothesis that an endoscopic technique could be successfully used in patients with oroantral fistula causing chronic maxillary sinusitis of dental origin, instead of the Caldwell-Luc procedure, at least in patients with a small to medium-sized oroantral fistula.
authors.affiliation: ENT department, General Hospital of Pireus, Athens, Greece. irakliotis@yahoo.com
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hajiioannou
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Koudounarakis
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Alexopoulos
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kotsani
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Kyrmizakis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003487:Cyanoacrylates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003646:Debridement; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015523:Maxillary Sinusitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D009957:Oroantral Fistula / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D014081:Tooth Extraction / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D003487:Cyanoacrylates