Key Points
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Occasionally, pathological sinuses in the maxillofacial region can be due to retained foreign bodies.
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Foreign bodies induce reparative granuloma formation making their detection by the naked eye difficult during surgery.
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Radiolucent foreign bodies like wood evade detection by X-rays.
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Performing ultrasounds and injecting dye into the sinus are useful for detection and location of wooden foreign bodies in soft tissues.
Abstract
Pathological sinuses in the maxillofacial region are frequently encountered in clinical practice. These sinuses may be a sequelae of periapical and periodontal pathologies or infections like osteomyelitis, actinomycosis etc. Classical clinical symptoms and radiographic features accompany all these infections. Rarely, sinuses in the oro-facial region can be sequelae of retained occult foreign bodies like wood in the soft tissues. We report a case of recurrent sinus of the cheek caused by an occult wooden splinter and discuss its diagnosis and clinical management.
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We would like to acknowledge Dr K. S. Bhat for his guidance and important advice in writing this article.
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Auluck, A., Behanan, A., Pai, K. et al. Recurrent sinus of the cheek due to a retained foreign body: report of an unusual case. Br Dent J 198, 337–339 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.4812172
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.4812172
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