Surgical excision of a dentigerous cyst (heterotopic polyodontia) in the
right maxillary sinus of an adult horse.
Abstract
Introduction : The dentigerous cyst is a well-known congenital
malformation usually found in the temporal region. This is the first
case report of a large maxillary sinus cyst with ectopic teeth in an
adult horse. Methods: A 14-year-old warmblood gelding was presented
for evaluation of chronic right nasal discharge. After imaging
exploration, surgery was performed on the standing horse with a
conchofrontal sinus trephination and a large maxillary bone (MB)
sinutomy. Results : The examinations revealed a sinusal mass in the
right maxillary sinus covered by sinusal mucosa and around the
infraorbital canal. The mass contained three ectopic tooth structures.
The dental table was complete and normal. Both approaches (right frontal
trephination, and maxillary sinutomy) showed adhesion between the dental
structures, the infraorbital canal and the MB. The two simultaneous
approaches allowed extraction with preservation of all sinus and nerve
structures. Conclusions: The loss of integrity in the MB and the
attachment to the infraorbital canal suggests that there could have been
subsequent damage to the infraorbital canal, seen at the time of the
examination and the surgery, leading to neurological symptoms in the
future. The extraction of these completed structures in the standing
horse has not been described and the use of both approaches allowed good
visualization and preservation of the integrity of the sinus structures
whilst allowing complete removal of the mass.