Pediatric Silent Sinus Syndrome

  • Etiology: Idiopathic collapse of the maxillary sinus due to chronic occlusion of maxillary sinus ostia resulting in resorption of air in sinus and generation of negative pressure in sinus leading to collapse of maxillary sinus
  • Imaging CT: Maxillary sinus is fully formed but fully opacified and reduced in volume with inward bowing of all four walls
  • DDX:
  • Complications: Diplopia
  • Treatment: Surgical creation of drainage route for maxillary sinus
  • Clinical: Painless enophthalmos and hypoglobus resulting in facial asymmetry

Radiology Cases of Silent Sinus Syndrome

CT of silent sinus syndrome
Axial (above) and coronal (below) CT without contrast of the sinuses shows the right maxillary sinus is fully formed but fully opacified and reduced in volume with inward bowing of all of its four walls.