Odontogenic myxoma of the maxillary sinus in a Nigerian child - report of a case

ABSTRACT

A case of grossly disfiguring swelling of the right maxilla in a Nigerian girl with delayed presentation due to socio-economic factors is presented. A 15 year old girl presented with a right facial upper jaw swelling of six years duration. It was painless and progressive, with expansion into the right maxilla, zygoma and filling the maxillary antrum with an intra-oral extension and nasal obstruction. The CT scan revealed an expansive radiolucent mass of the right maxilla and the lesion was surgically excised completely via a right maxillectomy. The histolopathological features of the excised mass are consistent with fibrous dysplasia of the right maxilla which has undergone myxomatous degeneration. This case highlights the clinical, radiological and histological characteristics of this rare locally aggressive tumour that underwent myxomatous degeneration as a result of late presentation due to socio-ecnomic factors. More concerted efforts should be made to make the national health insurance scheme fully operational. This will make presentations at the hospitals not to be delayed thereby avoiding complications