Why Is a Cyst on a Sinus Called Maxillary?

Sinuses come in four pairs, the maxillary sinuses in the cheekbone area, the frontals by the upper bridge of the nose, the ethmoids between the eyes and nose, and the sphenoids behind the eyes and nose.

Identification

• Doctors identify cysts with an MRI. When an MRI returns inconclusive results, a CT scan provides a more detailed picture. Properly identifying a cyst becomes crucial because more severe conditions can mimic a cyst.

Type

• Only sinus cysts that grow in the maxillary sinus get labeled as maxillary cysts. Several types of sinus cysts exist and receive names based on the location of the sinus they appear in. For example, a cyst in the sphenoid sinus gets labeled a sphenoid cyst.

Symptoms

• Cysts in the maxillary sinus rarely cause symptoms, but when a cyst obstructs the airway or causes a blockage then surgery becomes necessary.

Predisposition

• After the maxillary cyst removal another cyst may form in the same region. For people with asthma and allergies this is common. Doctors only remove the new cyst if symptoms persist.

Outcome

• After treatment, patients often feel swollen and congested. Once this resolves, most people find that the original symptoms disappear. If symptoms begin to reappear, doctors may order a scan to determine if another cyst is developing.