Preoperative washing cytology in the diagnosis of maxillary sinus lesions.

Objective: To assess the preoperative value of washing cytology in maxillary sinus lesions with suspected malignancy.

Study Design: Over a 4-year period, 96 p tients with clinical or radiologic suspicion of a malignant maxillary sinus tumor either confined to the maxillary complex or extending to the nasal cavity underwent preoperative cytologic evaluation by sinus puncture and local washing or nasal washing. Subsequently all patients underwent endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) and partial or total maxillectomy.