Unique canal communicating between both maxillary sinuses through the palatine recess with hypertrophy of sinuses

Abstract

The result of an inappropriate growth of the jaws is in many cases related to abnormalities in the rest of the facial skeleton. We present a 21-year-old patient with a possibly unique anomaly of the maxillary sinus in skeletal class III dentofacial deformity. This anatomical variant has not to our knowledge been previously reported and all clinicians should be aware of it. It presented not only as hypertrophy of the sinuses but also as a communication between the two maxillary sinuses, and might be associated with a severe III class deformity with an extremely narrow maxilla. We describe this as a narrowed maxillary canal with no septum or membrane.

Keywords: Maxillary sinus; pneumatisation; sinus abnormality; sinus communication; sinus hypertrophy.