Cholesterol granuloma of maxillary sinus

Cholesterol Granuloma From a Developmental Odontogenic Cyst: A Report of a Rare Case and a Literature Review

Dentigerous cysts are the second most common developmental odontogenic cysts that develop around the crown of unerrupted teeth with the maxillary canine region being one of the common sites of occurrence. The cystic lining of this lesion has been shown to develop into ameloblastoma, Muco epidermoid carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinomas. However, the development of cholesterol granuloma (CG) in the cystic lining of a dentigerous cyst is extremely rare. CG is a histological observation distinguished by the presence of a conglomeration of connective tissue and granulation tissue. The condition is predominantly seen in the field of otolaryngology, with very few cases reported in the maxillofacial region, most of which are associated with the maxillary sinus. This article presents the findings of a CG in a 39-year-old male patient that developed within the dentigerous cyst and discusses the possible etiopathogenesis, surgical management, and histological presentation.

Cholesterol granuloma of the maxillary sinus in association with a dental implant-A case report

BACKGROUND

Cholesterol granuloma is typically a benign granulomatous growth seen mostly in the mastoid process and the petrous temporal bone. Although cholesterol granuloma in maxillary sinus was first reported in the scientific literature in 1978, the occurrence is very rare and it is usually clinically and radiographically manifested ambiguously as maxillary sinusitis.

PURPOSE

The presence of cholesterol granuloma in the maxillary sinus in association with a dental pathology or prosthesis has been scarcely known. In this case report, we present a case of cholesterol granuloma in the maxillary sinus of a middle-aged male who had previously undergone dental implant placement in relation to that anatomical location.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A 64-year-old man reported to the Dental OP with a chief complaint of oral malodor, swelling, and tenderness over the right middle third of the face for the past 3 months. A cone beam computed tomography scan showed a well-defined radio-opaque lesion along with sclerosis and thinning of bone within the right maxillary antrum in relation to the dental implant placed in the 16 regions. The left maxillary sinus appeared normal. The Caldwell-Luc procedure was performed and a solitary soft lesion with yellowish-gray contents was evident within the right maxillary sinus. Histopathological examination revealed cholesterol clefts surrounded by foreign body giant cell reaction and granulation tissue formation, along with the presence of old and recent hemorrhage. A final diagnosis of cholesterol granuloma was made based on the histopathological examination report.

CONCLUSION

Based on the evidence available in the present case, we hypothesize that the localized trauma and hemorrhage initiated by implant placement in this particular anatomical location could have plausibly resulted in the occurrence of cholesterol granuloma in our patient.

Cholesterol Granuloma of the Maxillary Sinus-A Case Report and Literature Review

Cholesterol Granulomas of the Maxillary Sinus, considered an unusual presentation at this anatomical site. Over last 2 decades, only few cases are reported in the literature (English) and no available comprehensive reviews or studies on this entity. Herein in this article we present a comprehensive literature review of the available reports of 16 cases along with reporting a new case which we managed, aided with its histopathological pictures. This review article can be a reference for practitioners in the field of otorhinolaryngology who may encounter these cases. Also, it attracts the attention to consider this pathology among the differential diagnoses of nasal masses. Moreover, including a described pathological imaging may help young pathologist to identify this pathology.

Cholesterol Granuloma in the Maxillary Sinus: Are Endodontically Treated Teeth Involved in Its Etiopathogenesis?

Cholesterol granuloma (CG) is a tissue reaction in response to the accumulation of cholesterol crystals rarely found in the maxillary sinus. The etiopathogenesis of maxillary sinus CG remains unclear. We reviewed the literature and added two new reports of cholesterol granuloma in maxillary sinus related to endodontically treated maxillary posterior teeth. The first report refers to a 45-year-old woman diagnosed with rhinitis, who was submitted to endodontic retreatment of maxillary molar, and subsequently showed maxillary sinus opacity with cystic appearance. The second case describes a young adult woman, who presented a cystic mass in maxillary sinus after endodontic treatment, in close association with the apex of the maxillary right second premolar. Both patients were treated by a classic Caldwell-Luc surgery and the microscopic analyses revealed maxillary sinus CG. In the following, the authors discuss the probable involvement of endodontically treated maxillary posterior teeth in the etiopathogenesis of maxillary sinus CG.

Paranasal sinus cholesterol granuloma: systematic review of diagnostic and management aspects

BACKGROUND

Cholesterol granuloma (CG) is an expansile, cystic lesion most commonly observed in the temporal bone. CG is rarely encountered in the paranasal sinuses. Given its paucity in this region, the diagnostic and management aspects remain to be elucidated.

METHODS

Systematic review of the literature yielded 66 cases reported as individual data in 37 articles; an additional 69 cases were reported as aggregate data in 5 case series.

RESULTS

The mean age of the 135 patients was 43.8 years, with a male:female ratio of 5.6:1. The most common presenting symptoms were orbital (66%), followed by headaches (19.3%). The most common location for CG was the frontal sinus (60%), followed by maxillary (34.1%) and ethmoid (3.7%) sinuses. Computed tomography (CT) imaging was used in 84 patients (63.3%), with bone erosion being noted in 80% of cases. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was reported in only 9 cases (6.7%); high signal on T1- and T2-weighted images was evident in 77.8% and 66.7%, of cases respectively. Surgical data was available on 65 cases; drainage was achieved by open and endoscopic techniques in 52 (80%) and 13 (20%) cases, respectively. Primary symptom improvement and CG cavity patency was achieved in 92% of cases at a mean follow-up of 34.5 months.

CONCLUSION

Paranasal sinus CG is most commonly observed in middle-aged males, arises in the frontal sinus, and typically presents with orbital symptoms. Both open and endoscopic techniques can be used with high success rate. The present study represents the first attempt in the literature to construct a clinical profile of this rare entity.

Granulomatous disorders of the nose and paranasal sinuses

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To review granulomatous findings in sinus and nasal tissue as part of a diagnostic indicator of various disease states, focusing on the role of further testing and evaluation to clarify this diagnosis as well as the implications for patient care.

RECENT FINDINGS

Inflammatory and infectious diseases as well as neoplasms, cocaine abuse and trauma may have rhinosinus granulomatous findings as part of the disease state. The need for careful histopathologic evaluation as well as the pitfalls and caveats of laboratory testing will be reviewed in this paper. Some infections such as invasive fungal rhinosinusitis and rhinoscleroma may have a chronic granulomatous course, which may require extensive surgical and pharmacologic treatment. Treatment options for Wegener's granulomatosis have shown a lack of effect of etanercept, but hopeful alternatives to prolonged cyclophosphamide use include methotrexate and leflunomide. Cocaine-induced midline destructive lesions unfortunately have a high prevalence of cytoplasmic antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies, limiting this test's usefulness in distinguishing this disorder from Wegener's granulomatosis.

SUMMARY

The otorhinolaryngologist must be aware of the differential diagnosis of these chronic inflammatory states to formulate an optimal course of evaluation and longitudinal management for these patients.

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.

PURPOSE

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.

MATERIALS AND 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.

Cholesterol granuloma of the maxillary sinus

Cholesterol granuloma (CG) is a foreign body reaction to the deposition of cholesterol crystals, usually found in association to chronic middle ear diseases, being highly uncommon in the paranasal sinuses. This article reports a case of CG in the maxillary sinus of a 22-year-old man, manifesting as a swelling on the right maxilla associated with pain and nasal obstruction. Computed tomography (CT) imaging showed complete opacification of the right maxillary sinus with cortical bone expansion and destruction. Incisional biopsy showed a solid mass filling the sinus and histological examination showed foreign body reaction to cholesterol crystals. The microscopic findings associated to tooth vitality, CT images and absence of a cavity during the surgical procedure were compatible with the diagnosis of CG of the maxillary sinus. Complete surgical excision of the mass under general anesthesia was suggested, but the patient did not return to conclude the treatment. CG must be included in differential diagnosis of diseases that cause opacification on the paranasal sinuses, especially sinusitis, and cystic and tumoral lesions.

Association of cholesterol granuloma and aspergillosis in the sphenoid sinus

Cholesterol granuloma (CG) is usually associated with chronic middle ear disease, and is not common in the paranasal sinuses. Additionally, it is very rare for cases of CG to be associated with a fungal infection. However, in this paper, we report a case of sphenoid sinus CG that is associated with aspergilloma in a 78-year-old male patient who presented with right hemifacial pain, headache and toothache. CT revealed the presence of an expansile cystic mass lesion in the sphenoid sinus that showed a high signal intensity on both the T1 and T2 weighted images. This mass was later determined to be CG. The suspected etiologic mechanisms of both CG and aspergilloma of the paranasal sinuses are similar, and impaired drainage and obstruction of the ventilation of the paranasal sinuses are considered to be the causative mechanism of both diseases. Overall, the results of this study indicate that the use of MRI findings could be helpful for differentiating CG from other paranasal sinus mass lesions.

Presence of cholesterol granuloma in the maxillary and ethmoid sinuses

INTRODUCTION

Although cholesterol granuloma associated with chronic middle ear disease is shown to be common in the mastoid antrum and air cells of the temporal bone (Leon et al., Arch Pathol Lab Med 126:217-219, 2002), its presence in the maxillary and ethmoid sinuses is rarely encountered. There are few cases reported regarding the incidence of cholesterol granuloma in these sinuses (Ko et al., Am J Otoryngol 27:370-372, 2006).

CASE

Here, we report a case of concomitant cholesterol granuloma in the maxillary and ethmoid sinuses of a 33-year-old man who underwent surgical excision.

DISCUSSION

Histopathological examination of the removed specimen revealed fragments of respiratory mucosa with cholesterol clefts surrounded by multinucleated foreign-body giant cells.