What symptoms can bilateral maxillary sinus cysts cause?

Bilateral maxillary sinus cysts may cause symptoms such as facial fullness or pain, nasal congestion, and rhinorrhea.

Bilateral maxillary sinus cysts are usually caused by blockage of the sinus ostium or glands within the maxillary sinus. Common contributing factors include inflammation, nasal foreign bodies, and allergies. Small maxillary sinus cysts often do not produce any symptoms and are only detected incidentally during routine physical examinations. These cases are generally mild and require only observation and follow-up. However, when the cysts grow larger, patients may experience symptoms including facial pressure or pain, nasal obstruction, and runny nose. Facial pain typically presents as dull ache on the cheek, accompanied by numbness and a sensation of heaviness. Nasal congestion occurs because the cyst pushes the lateral wall of the nasal cavity toward the nasal septum. Larger cysts can also stimulate excessive mucus secretion from the nasal mucosa, resulting in rhinorrhea—usually clear discharge, though yellowish fluid may be discharged if the cyst ruptures.

Patients may take vitamin supplements orally as directed by a physician, such as vitamin C chewable tablets, compound vitamin B tablets, or multivitamin chewable tablets. For patients with secondary bacterial infection, antibiotics such as amoxicillin capsules, roxithromycin capsules, or sulbenicillin capsules may be prescribed under medical supervision. Treatment options also include traditional surgery, simple endoscopic sinus surgery, or endoscopic surgery combined with inferior meatal window procedure.

Patients with bilateral maxillary sinus cysts are advised to seek timely medical evaluation and follow their doctor's recommendations for appropriate management based on individual conditions.