The role of the anterior ethmoids in the pathogenesis of chronic maxillary sinusitis is still a subject of controversy. Although the symptoms of maxillary sinusitis may be clinically dominant, many previous studies have showed that the origin of this disease was, in most cases, located within the anterior ethmoid region.

This study included 100 Egyptian patients, suffering from chronic maxillary sinusitis (confirmed by maxillary sinoscopy), who were subjected to ‘systematic nasal endoscopy’. It was found that all cases of chronic maxillary sinusitis were associated with anatomical variations and/or pathological abnormalities of ‘the ostiomeatal area’. It is recommended, therefore, that during the diagnosis and treatment of chronic maxillary sinusitis, attention should be given to the region of the middle meatus and anterior ethmoid complex (or ‘ostiomeatal area’) for any anatomical variations and/or pathological abnormalities in order to avoid recurrence of maxillary sinusitis. This is the basis of the procedure of functional endoscopic sinus surgery.