Antrolithiasis: a retrospective study

Abstract

In this retrospective study, the computed tomography (CT) archives of paranasal sinus examinations were reviewed and three cases of antroliths are presented. The archives of paranasal sinus CT studies of 1957 patients (1023 females, 934 males, mean age 36.5 years) were surveyed. CT studies were performed using 3 mm collimation and interval in the coronal, axial or both coronal and axial planes. Three out of 1957 patients demonstrated antroliths, all in the left maxillary sinus. Associated sinusitis was detected in all three patients. Only one patient was operated. The chemical analysis of the antrolith revealed it to be a calcium oxalate stone. All the relevant literature is reviewed and only 25 other cases of true antrolithiasis were encountered. The clinical and radiological features of antroliths, as well as differential diagnosis were discussed. Antrolithiasis should be considered in any case of sinusitis, that does not respond to appropriate medical therapy.

Cone Beam Computed Tomographic Findings of Double Osteomas with Maxillary Sinusitis

“…Antrolith may occur around a nidus that continues to grow by deposition of mineral salts (12). It could have a pitted or laminated surface.…”

Sphenoidal and ethmoidal sinoliths

“…The pathogenesis of sinoliths formation is not completely understood 12 . Predisposing factors of these dystrophic calcifications or ossifications, such as foreign sinus body or fungus, long-standing infections or poor sinus drainage, were indicated 2,5,12,13 .…”

“…Predisposing factors of these dystrophic calcifications or ossifications, such as foreign sinus body or fungus, long-standing infections or poor sinus drainage, were indicated 2,5,12,13 . In our case, only the ethmoidal sinolith appearance would indicate a central nidus, which may be exogenous or endogenous in origin.…”

Iatrogenic odontogenic maxillary sinusitis

“…Важным фактором, обусловливающим возник-новение и развитие хронических синуситов, являет-ся нарушение дренажной функции соустья вслед-ствие полипоза, обструкции ОМК, отека слизистой оболочки вследствие ее воспаления [34,35]. Затруд-нение оттока из пазухи и застой ее содержимого имеет место при гайморитах как риногенной, так и одонтогенной природы [36].…”