Bipolar Maxillary Sinus Disease

Bipolar maxillary sinus disease affects both the left and right sinuses.The maxillary sinuses sit on either side of the nose, behind the cheeks. The maxillary sinuses may become diseased alone or in addition to the other sinus pairs.

Symptoms

• Symptoms of bipolar maxillary sinus disease may include excess or reduced sinus drainage, swelling or tenderness of the cheeks, headaches, congestion or possibly no symptoms at all.

Diagnosis

• Doctors identify bipolar maxillary sinus disease with X-Rays, CT scans, a nasal endoscope exam or a combination of these diagnostic procedures.

Causes

• Many different conditions can lead to bipolar maxillary sinus disease. Common causes include chronic sinusitis (infection), fungal growth and chronic tissue inflammation.

Treatment

• There are several different treatments for bipolar maxillary sinus disease. Endoscopic surgery removes obstructions (i.e. cysts, tumors, polyps, fungus), creates a more functional drainage passage or gets rid of damaged and diseased sinus tissue. More invasive surgery is seldom necessary to treat maxillary sinus disease. Sometimes doctors prescribe anti-inflammatory medicines to allow the sinus tissue to repair.

Potential

• Bipolar maxillary sinus disease may develop into more serious conditions if left untreated. Chronic inflammation of the sinus tissue may lead to osteomyelitis (bone infection) in the surrounding cheek and nose area. Fungal infections are rarer, but they can be fatal if left untreated.