The silent sinus syndrome: protean manifestations of a rare upper respiratory disorder revisited

Silent Sinus Syndrome (SSS) is known as a rare clinical condition, characterized by spontaneous and progressive enophthalmos and hypoglobus [1] associated with atelectasis of the maxillary sinus and alteration of the orbital floor. This syndrome was first described in 1964 by Montgomery [2], but it was named Silent Sinus Syndrome in 1994 by Soparkar et al. [3]. Most of the patients with this syndrome present with ophthalmological complaints without any nasal sinus symptoms, and it typically has a painless course [3] and slow development, ergo the term “silent.” We review the concepts of SSS and review the two most likely mechanisms of this condition.

It’s very common that these patients first present to ophthalmology [4] due to the syndrome’s typical constellation of progressive enophthalmos and hypoglobus. SSS typically presents unilaterally [5], with a slight predominance for presenting on the right maxillary sinus (57%) [6], and its development is gradual and progressive. The physical exam shows some degree of orbital asymmetry, with deepening of the superior orbital sulcus and the consequent hypoglobus. Some other ophthalmological signs can be eyelid retraction, lid lag, and lagophthalmos [7]. Occasionally, exophthalmos of the contralateral uninvolved eye is reported [8]. Although the visual function is typically unaffected, a few patients have reported alterations in ocular motility or muscle imbalance producing diplopia [9].

A 66-year-old gentleman, non-smoker, with no known allergies or significant respiratory medical history, presented to the Allergy Medicine service with a chief complaint of cough. He describes that he suffered a respiratory infection approximately three months prior to the visit. After it was treated, the majority of symptoms resolved, but the cough and coughing spells persisted with post-nasal drainage and clearing of the throat. The CT scan revealed an asymmetrically smaller and completely opacified left maxillary sinus with left-sided periosteal thickening as well as lateral bowing/bone remodeling of the uncinate process. The opacified left maxillary sinus had hyperdensities which could represent chronic dense secretions (Figure 1). The left ostiomeatal complex was occluded (Figure 2). The initial diagnosis was chronic sinusitis. He was prescribed antibiotics for 10 days, was advised to have a new sinus CT scan, and was referred to otorhinolaryngology.

Two months later when the patient presented to otorhinolaryngology for follow-up, there had been no clinical changes. The physical exam showed some asymmetry of both eyes with mild hypoglobus of the left eye. His nose had a moderate anterior septal deformity to the left with mucoid drainage. He was unaware of vision changes, but testing demonstrated double vision when looking to the extreme right. The rest of the exam was normal.

The new sinus CT scan showed no significant change. The interpretation was a persistent opacified hypoplastic left maxillary sinus with obstructed left ostiomeatal unit with lateralization of the uncinate process. The pattern was consistent with type 2 maxillary sinus hypoplasia. A sinonasal endoscopy confirmed the previous imaging findings.

The patient underwent a turbinoplasty and endoscopic sinus surgery (antrostomy) to address the total opacification of his left maxillary sinus. The nasal sinus symptoms and cough resolved after the procedure. Correction of the enopthalmos was not necessary.

SSS has two main theorized mechanisms: maxillary sinus atelectasis (MSA)—which could be idiopathic, post-traumatic, or post-surgery—or maxillary sinus hypoplasia (MSH).

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) has a prevalence of 13.4% in adults older than 18 years of age, according to a national health survey conducted in 2008 [20]. The causes and classification of CRS have recently been reviewed by Hamilos [21]. Causes of CRS are frequently anatomical and include septal deformity, Haller’s cells, paradoxical middle turbinate, and agger nasi cell. A hypoplastic maxillary sinus, an atelectatic maxillary sinus, and silent sinus syndrome are infrequently recognized causes of CRS. A description of these entities is reviewed in this paper.

Maxillary sinus hypoplasia (MSH) is an infrequent congenital anomaly that Bolger et al. [22] noted in 10.4% of 202 consecutive CT scans reviewed. MSH has been classified as type 1 when there is a normal uncinate process and a defined infundibular passage. Type 2 has a hypoplastic or absent uncinate process with an opacified affected sinus, and type 3 has an absent uncinate process and profound hypoplasia of the sinus. This classification has been supported by Erden (Table 1) [23].

Chronic maxillary atelectasis (CMA) is a term that describes a persistent decrease in the sinus volume from inwardly bowing antral walls [24]. In a 1997 study that spanned over ten years at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, 22 individuals were diagnosed with CMA, and their literature review found 25 additional individuals who met their criteria. Their criteria included: sinus opacification on CT scans or X-rays lasting more than 3 months and/or tenacious mucus secretions filling the antrum in addition to lateral displacement of the medial infundibular wall (MIW).

CMA, in reference to the Massachusetts Eye and Ear work, was differentiated in 3 stages based on the anatomical changes: Stage 1 (membranous deformity) where there is a lateralization of the maxillary fontanel, Stage 2 (bone deformity) where there is inward bowing of one or more osseous walls of the maxillary antrum, and Stage 3 (clinical deformity) where enophthalmus, hypoglobus, and/or midfacial deformity is noted (Table 2) [24].

In this series of 22 patients, 19 had some degree of sinus symptoms and five had findings of hypoglobus.

Silent sinus syndrome is a very uncommon clinical entity [25]. The pathophysiology of this syndrome remains unanswered in part because there is rarely a pre-symptomatic CT scan that can be used to review the stages of the process. A hypothesis for the pathophysiology is that hypoventilation of the sinus due to obstruction of the osteomeatal unit [26] creates a negative pressure [27] that leads to atelectasis [28] of the sinus with a downward displacement of the orbital floor [29]. There is disagreement over whether the obstruction of the osteomeatal unit (OMU) is caused by hypoplasia and/or if there are any cases where a normally developed sinus due to trauma, surgery, or other cause can be obstructed and consequently develop atelectasis and SSS.

In this paper, we have reviewed the clinical and radiological presentation of SSS. Patients with SSS most often present to ophthalmology practices due to complaints of facial or ocular asymmetry such as hypoglobus or enophthalmos with little or no nasal sinus symptoms [30]. However, these patients may occasionally also present to otorhinolaryngology or allergy medicine, with nasal sinus symptoms suggestive of sinusitis. The mechanism of the development of SSS has been thought to be atelectasis of the maxillary sinus with or without the presence of maxillary sinus hypoplasia, especially in type 2.

Our patient presented to otolaryngology and allergy medicine for evaluation of a chief complaint of chronic cough with occasional coughing spells which have not been described in the literature as a form of presentation of Silent Sinus Syndrome. The CT scan findings suggested CRS. The radiological findings were suggestive of MSH, and there was evidence of MSA.

The differentiation of SSS from CRS is important since sinus surgery is the procedure of choice and clear knowledge of this anatomy is very important for the surgeon to avoid entering into the orbit and since medical management alone is unlikely to produce a positive result. In surgery, the use of an image-guidance system can also help to avoid complications.

Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this Case Report and any accompanying images. A copy of the written consent is available for review by the Editor-in-Chief of this journal.