Although uncommon, enophthalmos may be a presenting symptom of chronic maxillary sinusitis with secondary attentuation of the orbital floor. As such, an awareness of this entity, known as the “silent sinus syndrome,” is important to all practising otolaryngologists. Two such cases are presented herein, together with a discussion of the pathophysiology, management, and current literature.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
MontgomeryW.W.Mucocele of the maxillary sinus causing enophthalmos. Eye Ear Nose Throat Monthly43: 41–44, 1964.
2.
SoparkarC.N.S., PatrinelyJ.R., Cuaycong. The silent sinus syndrome: A cause of spontaneous enophthalmos. Ophthalmology101: 772–778, 1994.
3.
ClineR.A., RootmanJ.Enophthalmos. A clinical review. Ophthalmology91: 229–237, 1984.
4.
EtoR.T., HouseJ.M.Enophthalmos, a sequela of maxillary sinusitis. AJNR16: 939–941, 1995.
5.
BlackwellK.E., GoldbergR.A., CalcaterraT.C.Atelectasis of the maxillary sinus with enophthalmos and midface depression. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol102: 429–432, 1993.
HayesE.J., WeberA.L.Chronic sinus disease: A rare cause of enophthalmos. Ann Otolo Rhinol Laryngol96: 351–353, 1987.
8.
MartelliA., HoytW.F., NewtonT.H.Enophthalmos, and orbital expansion from chronic sinusitis. CT evaluation with reformatted images. J Clin Neuro Ophthalmol4: 167–172, 1984.
9.
TraustasonO.I., FeldonS.E.Cause of enophthalmos secondary to maxillary sinus mucocele. Am J Ophthalmol95: 838–840, 1983.
JudischG.F., JacobyC.G., OssonigK.C.Developmental orbital enlargement and acquired vertical diplopia. Ann Ophthalmol12: 1282–1286, 1980.
17.
MilczukH.A., DalleyR.W., WessbacherF.W., RichardsonM.A.Nasal and paranasal sinus anomalies in children with chronic sinusitis. Laryngoscope103: 247–252, 1993.
18.
ZinreichS.J., DolanK.D.Radiology of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses. In: Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery.CummingsC.W., FredricksonJ.M., HarkerL.A. (Eds) St. Louis, MO: Mosby-Year Books, 1993: 919.
19.
ImamuraK., OzawaH., HiraideT.Continuously applied pressure induces bone resorption by a mechanism involving prostaglandin E2 synthesis. J Cell Physiol144: 222–228, 1990.
20.
StashenkoP., DewhirstF.E., RooneyM.L.Desjardins LA, Heeley JD. Interleukin-1β is a potent inhibitor of bone formation in vitro. J Bone Mineral Res120: 2494–2499, 1987.
21.
AmanoS., HanazawaS., HiroseK.Stimulatory effect on bone resorption of interleukin-1-like cytokine produced by an osteoblast-rich population of mouse calvarial cells. Calcif Tissue Int43: 88–91, 1988.
