Silent sinus syndrome

Silent sinus syndrome
Synonyms	SSS
Pronounce	N/A
Specialty	N/A
Symptoms	Facial asymmetry, enophthalmos, diplopia, hypoglobus
Complications	Orbital floor depression, sinusitis
Onset	Adulthood
Duration	Chronic
Types	N/A
Causes	Maxillary sinus atelectasis
Risks	Sinus surgery, nasal obstruction
Diagnosis	CT scan, MRI
Differential diagnosis	Chronic sinusitis, orbital tumor, enophthalmos due to other causes
Prevention	N/A
Treatment	FESS, orbital floor reconstruction
Medication	N/A
Prognosis	Generally good with treatment
Frequency	Rare
Deaths	N/A

Silent Sinus Syndrome is a rare medical condition characterized by painless facial asymmetry and diplopia. It is often associated with chronic maxillary atelectasis, a condition where there is a persistent and progressive decrease in the volume of the maxillary sinus, which can lead to a change in the vertical dimension of the orbit.

Symptoms

The most common symptoms of Silent Sinus Syndrome include:

• Facial asymmetry
• Diplopia (double vision)
• Enophthalmos (sinking of the eyeball into the orbit)
• Hypoglobus (inferior displacement of the eyeball)

Causes

The exact cause of Silent Sinus Syndrome is unknown. However, it is believed to be due to a combination of factors including:

• Inflammation of the sinus lining
• Obstruction of the ostiomeatal complex
• Negative pressure within the sinus

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of Silent Sinus Syndrome is often challenging due to its subtle presentation. It is typically diagnosed through a combination of clinical examination and imaging studies such as CT scan and MRI.

Treatment

Treatment of Silent Sinus Syndrome typically involves surgery to correct the underlying sinus pathology and restore normal sinus ventilation and drainage. This is often done through endoscopic sinus surgery.

See Also

• Chronic maxillary atelectasis
• Endoscopic sinus surgery
• Enophthalmos
• Diplopia