maxillary sinus , also known as antrum of highmore , is the largest of all paranasal sinuses . inflammatory sinus conditions are one of the most common disease processes that can affect the maxillary sinus . congestion of the sinus occurs frequently in case of otolaryngeal infection , common cold ( viral coriza ) , allergies and inflammatory conditions , with the other causes being dry season with dust , atmospheric pollution and an odontogenic origin . the common causes of odontogenic sinusitis include dental abscesses , periodontal disease perforating the schneidarian membrane , sinus perforations during tooth extraction , irritation and secondary infection caused by intra - antral foreign bodies . a 41-year - old female reported to us with the chief complaint of swelling on the left side of her face since 1 month , which gradually increased in size and was observed by her and her relatives . she also complained of facial discomfort . her motivation to seek treatment was due to the increase in the size of the swelling as observed by her relatives . during history taking , she revealed undergoing extraction of the second premolar in the second quadrant 2 months prior to the present swelling in her face . the tooth was extracted as it was grossly decayed , for which she had experienced pain and discomfort for a long time . the patient had ignored the initial tooth decay and had not sought any treatment till she developed pain and discomfort . on physical examination , a swelling was noticed on the left side of the face [ figure 1 ] . this extended superiorly from the ala region of the nose to the malar prominence and inferiorly from the infra - orbital region to the upper part of the angle of the mouth approximately measuring 3  2 cm . intraoral examination showed a swelling corresponding to the second premolar region obliterating the upper buccal vestibule . patient with swelling in the left cheek area nasal endoscopic examination revealed a congested maxillary sinus with a suspected nasal polyp . this showed an abnormal mucosal thickening of the left maxillary sinus along with a breach in the anterior wall of the maxilla [ figures 2 and 3 ] . a soft tissue mass was seen to breach the sinus cavity and spilling over to the soft tissues of the facial region . computed tomography scan showing breach in the lateral wall of the maxillary sinus and thickening of the nasal mucosa . also seen is a bulge in the thickened mucosa suggestive of a nasal polyp second section of the computed tomography scan an incisional biopsy [ figure 4 ] was performed and the tissue was subjected to histopathological examination . the epithelium showed pseudostratified ciliated columnar cells and connective tissue component with dense chronic inflammatory cells like plasma cells , russel bodies and lymphocytes . a functional endoscopic sinus surgery would be an ideal choice to approach a chronic sinus , but choice of surgical approach should be tailor made for each patient depending on the type of lesion encountered . hence , observing the extent of the lesion , we decided to go for a conventional approach to this patient . the patient was then taken up under general anesthesia for a total excision of the lesion . a vestibular incision was placed and , on raising a sub - periosteal flap , we observed that the anterior wall of the maxillary sinus had been eroded and breached by the thick mucosal tissue of the maxillary sinus . a certain amount of lesional tissue was seen between the fibers of the levator labii superioris and the fibers of the zygomaticus minor muscle [ figure 6 ] . the specimen was sent for histopathological diagnosis [ figure 7 ] . after achieving hemostasis , a bismuth iodine paraffin pack was placed and wound closure was done in with 4 - 0 monocryl . the histopathology diagnosis was given as chronic inflammatory tissue of the left maxillary sinus [ figures 8 and 9 ] . gomori - methenamine silver staining and periodic acid schiff staining were been performed for fungal hyphae , which turned out to be negative . the defect , which was created by the excision of the lesion , was rectified with acrylic prosthesis [ figure 10 ] . the patient has been on regular follow - up without any complications [ figure 11 ] . specimen of the incision biopsy slide showing chronic inflammatory cells excision of the lesion under general anesthesia by approaching through the existing bony defect excised mass from the maxillary sinus the histopathology slide shows polypoidal mass surrounded by pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium with stroma of dense infiltrate of chronic inflammatory cells surrounded by fibrocollagen ( low power ) the histopathology slide shows polypoidal mass surrounded by pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium with stroma of dense infiltrate of chronic inflammatory cells surrounded by fibrocollagen ( high power ) the defect that was created by the excision of the lesion was rectified with temporary removable prosthesis made from heat cure acrylic resin postoperative healing after 3 months acute sinusitis is usually self - limiting and is easily managed by conservative medication , whereas chronic sinusitis requires more extensive treatment and sometimes surgical intervention . chronic maxillary sinusitis with or without nasal polyp is a symptom - based diagnosis that entirely depends on the patients subjective description of their illness for its diagnosis . according to the european position paper on rhinosinusitis and nasal polyps 2007 , a general diagnosis of chronic sinusitis ( including nasal polyps ) can be confirmed if any two of the following signs / symptoms are fulfilled . these include either nasal blockage / obstruction / congestion or nasal discharge ( anterior / posterior nasal drip ) + /- reduction or loss of smell , and either endoscopic signs of polyps and/or mucopurulent discharge primarily from the middle meatus and/or edema / mucosal obstruction primarily in the middle meatus and/or computed tomographic changes showing mucosal changes within the ostiomeatal complex and/or sinuses . nasal polyp is the most common and prevalent pathologic entity associated with chronic sinusitis according to the available literature . a combined medical and surgical approach has been advocated by other studies to be an efficient option in its management . surgical treatment of the chronic maxillary sinus can be undertake either through the cadwell - luc / traditional approach or through newer techniques such as functional endoscopic sinus surgery ( fess ) . the fess approach aims to preserve the functional integrity and physiological function of the maxillary sinus and causes minimal trauma to the patient thus helping the patient to recover faster . the traditional caldwell - luc operation involves opening a bony window just above the root of the maxillary canine and to remove the entire sinus lining . although this method gives good access , the functionality of the sinus is lost for a considerable time . we choose to perform the conventional approach as the anterior wall of the maxillary sinus had already been breached by the lesion ; therefore , we could enter the sinus without creating a new window . destruction of the anterior wall of the maxilla with a picture of soft tissue mass in the facial plains gives an image of a destructive and invasive disease process . bony erosion and destruction of adjuvant tissue are typical signs of a malignant process , which on radiologic investigations may show opacification of the sinus . fungal disease , granulomatous diseases or a malignant process destroy the walls of the maxillary sinus , but simple chronic maxillary sinusitis causing such erosion is uncommon . the clinical features and imaging techniques help us in reaching a provisional diagnosis , but a histopathologic examination remains the mainstay for making a final , definitive diagnosis . as the histopathological report of this patient is seen to be chronic inflammatory tissue , the destructive nature of an inflammatory process is unique . the possible explanation for the breach in the bone , and the subsequent expansion of the soft tissue mass in to the facial spaces , may be put forward as follows : 
 the dento - alveolar bone and the floor of the maxillary sinus may have been weakened due to a periapical lesion in the premolar , which also might have contributed to an odontogenic sinusitis and caused a breach in the floor of the maxillary sinus during the process of extraction . this event may have allowed the inflamed sinus mucosa to spill into the facial tissue as the path of resistance was minimalthe second possibility would be erosion of the thin anterior wall of the maxillary sinus due to the chemical mediators of inflammation being released by the ongoing chronic maxillary sinusitis , which in turn activates osteoclastic activity in that area . this osteolytic process has been recorded in other chronic inflammatory processes such as otitis media , osteomylities and acute fungal rhinosinusitis . 
  the dento - alveolar bone and the floor of the maxillary sinus may have been weakened due to a periapical lesion in the premolar , which also might have contributed to an odontogenic sinusitis and caused a breach in the floor of the maxillary sinus during the process of extraction . this event may have allowed the inflamed sinus mucosa to spill into the facial tissue as the path of resistance was minimal the second possibility would be erosion of the thin anterior wall of the maxillary sinus due to the chemical mediators of inflammation being released by the ongoing chronic maxillary sinusitis , which in turn activates osteoclastic activity in that area . this osteolytic process has been recorded in other chronic inflammatory processes such as otitis media , osteomylities and acute fungal rhinosinusitis . osteolysis of the maxillary bone can be related to the release of osteolytic chemical mediators of inflammation . recognition of this possibility is important because bone erosion can be interpreted as an indication of invasive pathology . in the presence of bone erosion or disease extension , the clinical features and imaging techniques help us in reaching a provisional diagnosis , but a histopathologic examination
we present an osteolytic nasal polyp of the maxillary sinus with clinical features and radiographic features mimicking that of a malignancy . 
 maxillary sinusitis being a common inflammatory condition progressed to cause destruction of the maxillary bone and spread into the facial soft tissue , which is quite a rare occurrence . 
 we have discussed in detail the clinical , radiological , histopathology and management of this uncommon presentation of a common case .