Mucociliary function of the maxillary sinuses after restoring ventilation: a radioisotopic study of the maxillary sinus.

Ostium patency and sinus ventilation play a key role in the normal function of the sinuses and the pathogenesis of sinusitis. Experience with endoscopic treatment modalities has indicated that even severe mucosal disease in the maxillary and frontal sinuses will heal after eradication of an infectious focus in the ethmoid and maintaining ventilation and drainage of sinuses. The aim of this study was to use scintigraphic methods to evaluate possible differences in mucociliary function of chronically diseased maxillary sinuses after establishment of ventilation. Fourteen patients (22 maxillary sinuses) and 3 controls (6 maxillary sinuses) were evaluated after functional endoscopic sinus surgery. The drainage ratios of sinuses at 20 min were calculated at the 3rd postoperative day and again at 3 weeks. When the early and late postoperative drainage ratios were compared it was found that mucociliary function returned to normal after 3 weeks in sinuses with cysts but without hyperplastic mucosal degeneration. While the mucociliary function and drainage improved significantly in sinuses with hyperplastic mucosa, depending on the severity and extension of the pathology present, it was still less than levels found in normal sinuses at 3 weeks.