Editing Paranasal sinuses (section)

==Clinical significance==
===Inflammation===
{{Main|Sinusitis}}
The paranasal sinuses are joined to the [[nasal cavity]] via small orifices called [[Sinus ostium|ostia]]. These become blocked easily by allergic inflammation, or by swelling in the nasal lining that occurs with a [[common cold|cold]]. If this happens, normal drainage of [[mucus]] within the sinuses is disrupted, and [[sinusitis]] may occur. Because the maxillary posterior teeth are close to the maxillary sinus, this can also cause clinical problems if any disease processes are present, such as an infection in any of these teeth. These clinical problems can include secondary sinusitis, the inflammation of the sinuses from another source such as an infection of the adjacent teeth.<ref>Illustrated Anatomy of the Head and Neck, Fehrenbach and Herring, Elsevier, 2012, p. 68</ref>

These conditions may be treated with drugs such as [[decongestant]]s, which cause [[vasoconstriction]] in the sinuses; reducing inflammation; by traditional techniques of [[nasal irrigation]]; or by [[corticosteroid]].{{Medical citation needed|date=September 2023}}

===Cancer===
{{Unreferenced section|date=February 2025}}
Malignancies of the paranasal sinuses comprise approximately 0.2% of all malignancies. About 80% of these malignancies arise in the maxillary sinus. Men are much more often affected than women. They most often occur in the age group between 40 and 70 years. [[Carcinoma]]s are more frequent than [[sarcoma]]s. Metastases are rare. [[Neoplasm|Tumours]] of the sphenoid and frontal sinuses are extremely rare.