Studies on the Maxillary Ostial Function in Cases with Maxillary Pain, Intrasinusal Cysts and Chronic Sinusitis

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Abstract
Maxillary ostial function, measured as pressure transmission capacity, ostial airway resistance, equivalent ostial diameter during nasal breathing and with a constant artificial air-flow of 16.7 cm3 .cntdot. s-1 into the sinus, was compared in 3 groups of patients. One group consisted of 7 sinuses in 6 patients with maxillary pain but without any signs of sinusitis; a 2nd group of 6 sinuses in 6 patients with intramaxillary cysts; and a 3rd group of 6 sinuses in 5 patients with chronic maxillary sinusitis. No impairment of the ostial function was found in groups 1 and 2. In the 3rd group, an increased airway resistance of the ostia and small equivalent ostial diameters were found in sitting and recumbent positions. With the pressure recording technique, the ostium can be judged as patent, non-patent or partially obstructed, but no further grading can be done. With the pressure-flow technique, the ostial function can be evaluated as ostial resistance or equivalent ostial diameters under physiological conditions when the ostium is patent. With a constant artificial air-flow into the sinus, the equivalent ostial diameter can be estimated even in non-patent ostia but the equivalent ostial diameters obtained do not always reflect the true functional state of the ostium.