Cytologic diagnosis of the maxillary sinus reevaluated.

Preoperative cytologic diagnosis of the maxillary sinus was performed on 57 patients by examining of solutions obtained by local washing following sinus puncture. There were 6 cases of cancer (5 squamous cell carcinomas and 1 adenoid cystic carcinoma), 1 malignant melanoma, 1 odontoma, 8 aspergillosis, 1 inflammatory pseudotumor, 9 odontogenic maxillary sinusitis and conventional chronic sinusitis in residual cases. There were 2 false-negative cytologies in the 7 cases of malignant tumor (i.e., 1 adenoid cystic carcinoma and 1 squamous cell carcinoma). The significance and usefulness of the cytologic approach to preoperative diagnosis of malignancies, including malignant melanoma and fungal infection were discussed.