Canine fossa puncture: Safe visualization of the recesses of the maxillary sinus

摘要

Maxillary sinus disease can be treated easily with minimally invasive endoscopic sinus techniques in the majority of cases. However, some aspects of the sinus are difficulty to visualize and a canine fossa puncture can allow secure access to these areas. The canine fossa puncture allows endoscopic visualization on the maxillary sinus. It is minimally invasive and has advantages and disadvantages over other approaches; these are described in this article. The vast majority of maxillary sinus pathologies can be managed transnasally. Simple clearing of the outflow tract is often sufficient for most cases of chronic sinusitis. At times, the creation of a maxillary antrostomy is necessary. However, in some cases, even a maximal maxillary antrostomy (MMA) does not give adequate access to certain parts of the sinus. Anteriorly, laterally, or inferiorly based maxillary sinus pathology, such as tumors or antrochoanal polyps, may not be completely addressed from an MMA despite curved instrumentation and angled telescopes. Traversing the inferior meatus does not always offer a solution to this problem.