What may surprise a rhinologist in everyday clinical practice: silent sinus syndrome or pneumosinus dilatans/pneumocele? Literature review and own experience

Abstract

Background The aim of the study was to present rare sinus syndromes known as silent sinus syndrome (SSS) and frontal sinus syndrome with excessive pneumatization and bone defects in the wall (pneumocele). The available literature describing pneumocele cases was reviewed. Methodology PubMed and Science Direct databases were searched by two independent reviewers. The primary outcome was finding descriptions of the sinus pneumocele. In the end, papers on frontal sinus pneumocele that was not the result of trauma, congenital defects or comorbidities were selected. Moreover, the authors presented their own cases of SSS and pneumocele. Results Twelve case reports of frontal sinus pneumocele were found, one own case was presented. In addition, 8 subjects with SSS, diagnosed and treated in the period from September 2017 to May 2022, were described. Conclusions With the increasing number of patients suffering from sinus diseases and the growing number of endoscopic surgeries, the knowledge of rare sinus syndromes will increase the safety of the procedures performed.

Beyond aesthetics: A case report of pneumosinus dilatans frontalis presenting with headache

“…Pneumosinus dilatans (PSD) involves the expansion of an aerated sinus extending beyond normal wall boundaries without evidence of localized bone destruction, hyperostosis, or mucous membrane thickening ( 7 ). Until now, less than 150 cases have been diagnosed and reported in the literature; however, actual PSD prevalence is confounded by varying terminology used to describe the abnormal expansion of the sinuses.…”