Dental OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination) Practice Exam

What condition commonly causes thickening of the maxillary sinus?

1. Sinusitis

2. Allergic rhinitis

3. Deviated septum

4. Nasal polyps

The correct answer is: Sinusitis

Thickening of the maxillary sinus is commonly associated with sinusitis, which is an inflammation of the sinus lining often due to infection. When sinusitis occurs, the mucosal lining of the sinus becomes inflamed, leading to edema and subsequently, thickening. This thickened mucosal layer can be visualized via imaging studies and is a hallmark of the condition. Other conditions, while they may affect the nasal passages and sinuses, do not typically lead to the same degree of thickening of the sinus lining as seen in sinusitis. For instance, allergic rhinitis generally causes nasal congestion and inflammation but does not directly lead to marked thickening of the sinus walls. Similarly, a deviated septum can lead to sinus problems but is not directly responsible for sinus mucosal thickening itself. Lastly, nasal polyps, which are growths in the nasal cavity, can contribute to nasal obstruction and may sometimes accompany conditions like chronic sinusitis, but they do not cause sinus mucosal thickening in the same way that sinusitis does.