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.