Can a maxillary sinus retention cyst be cancerous?

@kewp, eventhough malignant tumours of maxillary sinus are rare, I can understand your wanting to be sure about the diagnosis.

Maxillary sinus retention cysts are relatively common, many people don’t know they have them. In most cases, these cysts have no symptoms and are only discovered in an imaging exam. Did you only find out you had the cyst because of the dental imaging being done for other reasons? Did you ask the ENT specialist if further imaging might rule out cancer?

Yes, my DDS was concerned because it became larger since last panoramic X-ray. I didn’t think to ask my ENT about a CT scan, because he was rather dismissive about the whole thing & seemed irritated at my question of any treatment. He went on to clean wax from my ears. I could ask my general Dr. I’m concerned that the growth takes up so much space, leaving only half the sinus clear. And seems to be entire lateral edge, rather than from floor of sinus as I’ve seen online. But then I can’t read X-rays! I do have long Hx of migraine h/a & chronic vasomotor rhinitis, very bad colds with total nasal congestion & when it starts draining, there is so much more on Left, I have to blow & blow tho I know you’re supposed to suck it in! (ENT said all that mucus comes from nasal membranes, not retention cyst, another irritating question I asked).
(I was actually at Mayo in 1981 with my 1st ITP episode where I complained of my “bad sinus colds”, was taking Sudafed. I went for opinion on splenectomy, but miraculously, my platelet count came up on that very day of visit, after being on high-dose steroid. Mayo Heme said not to takeOTC cold Rx & see if 10 years I’m ok, then can take. I did! But relapse after 19 yrs & 2 more).

I would like some information regarding maxillary sinus cysts and tumors.
My 26 year old son felt a small bump under the skin on his left cheek next to his nose about a month ago.
The bump is not visible; it can only be felt when touching that area of the face. He also has some congestion, sneezing and last weekend he had a couple of mild headaches. His general doctor thought that it was a cyst and told my son that it may or may not go away.
My son, Joe decided to see an ENT yesterday. The ENT told Joe that he could feel the lump on the outside wall of the maxillary sinus and said that it is either a cyst or a tumor. The ENT gave Joe medication to clear up the congestion and mucus, and then he is to have a CT scan in 2 weeks.
We are all devastated at the possibility of this being a tumor.
I have been reading online about sinus cysts and tumors and the information just adds to all the fear of it being a tumor.,
Here is a little more background info on my son. He doesn’t smoke and only drinks occasionally when going out with friends. He has been working for Conductix for the last 4 years. It is a Precision Machine and tool and die company. He is sometimes exposed to dust from metal products.
Here are my questions:
1. Is it common to see sinus cancers in men in their 20’s?
2. I read that sinus cancers are mostly found in the maxillary sinus and that tumors found there are very aggressive with a poor prognosis. The lump my son can feel is in the maxillary sinus. Is there a high possibility that this could be a tumor?
3. The ENT stated that the lump is on the outside wall of the sinus. Does that mean it is not actually inside the sinus cavity?
My son has never had anything like this before. Growing up he had a few ear infections and as he got older he had occasional sinus infections from colds. He also grew up on a farm around corn and soybeans and animal dust from raising goats, and our entire family suffers with seasonal allergies.
We are all very concerned about what to expect. Any additional information you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

@kppestal, I can imagine that you and your family are nervous and concerned. Sinus cancers in general are rare, but do happen more often in men than women. As I posted above, maxillary sinus retention cysts are relatively common, many people don’t know they have them.

You are asking very good question that I encourage you to ask your son's ENT specialist. Has the medication helped to clear the congestion?

Hi!! I have the same Lump and a thon load of allergies I’m really concerned and until my next schedule can you please let me know what happened to your son? Thank you and I wish you the best!

Hi @luuuhmoraes, when is your next appointment to check on the lump? Will you be seeing an ENT specialist?

I had symptoms like swollen eyelids, sinus and eye pain and pressure and migraines and had an MRI done it showed a maxillary mucosal cyst. The ENT (not my choice of ENT dr btw) I saw just dismissed it as well even though I've had a nasal polyp in the past that caused lots of symptoms so bad I had to have surgery on it. Do you think this might be the cause of my symptoms?

@lindsergirl, have you been able to get a second opinion?

I have one of these as well. Caused by a infected tooth extraction with out irragation. Immediately after the procedure I complained of nasal discharge, infection smell, extreme fatigue. After 2.5 yrs of complaints to ENT and Eye specialists, many dentists, oral surgeons and Drs I begin having severe migraines. 2.5yrs, 6 extractions, multiple PAN scans and 3d scans, but somehow the cyst is missed?! Golden standard of imaging technology and they didnt see it? These migraines left me reeling in pain in fetal position on floor holding my head. Sometimes in tears. And I can take pain and I dont ever see dr unless im dying so to speak. Not fun. So after a few visits to E.R.a ct is ordered next day. A 14.4mm x 12.2mm cyst is clearly seen directly above the tooth extraction. How could this be missed? So I confronted the Dr's, the ENT that gave me a kneck cream for my facial pain just after ct scan discovers a cyst with reported 2.5 yrs of complains from sinus issues. And the Oral surgeon that allowed a basic dentist to remove my tooth and then pulled 4 wisdoms and tooth i had filling on months earlier but clearly was not needed. I confront them and show them my scan myself. I dont know anything about imaging either so I spent hrs watching radiologist student training videos. Didn't take long to see that they missed mentioning multiple other issues beside the small mucosal retention cyst. Issues that were clearly seen by anyone that took time to look at scan. Things like a weird shaped mass behind ear and back of head, as well as orbital fluid building up in my sinus. Directly above the cyst in maxillary sinus that is directly above the non irrigated tooth extraction. I deserved an explanation on how this could be missed. So I confronted Drs with scan and the head ENT in the province of Saskatchewan asks if he can help. I dont know can you? I asked back. Sets appointment following week just to tell me cyst is to small and not the cause of my issues. I disagreed. Dr. Tells me "Lots of people have these." I respond with "and they have symptoms like mine?" "Well no" he says. After his 15yr of schooling was done talking I said he's wrong. After 3 plus yrs of reported symptoms to close to 25 Drs in multiple feilds and none tried to diagnose me. None bothered to investigate the cause in any way. So I had done my reasearch. And everything said this cyst had to be removed. So ending the appointment the ENT dismisses my thoughts and my first scan prior to any extractions with normal sinus and no cyst. I tell him this is malpractice. He then insults me for having my records and laptop with with me, suggests a psychiatrist for not letting this go and says I'll waste all my money trying to bring this to court. I told him I recorded the whole thing and then im threatened police will be called if I return. Immediately after this im denied treatment at the ENTs and at Oral surgeons. But also they cancel my second opinion referrals that were already set and then make it so every Dr will not treat me. They will set appointment and get paid but they won't do there job. THEN they make it so I have to go to a different city 3hrs away to get any treatment. I was treated the same way there as well. Claims he gave a endoscopy when I did not have one or ever had one. He stuck a long q tip up my nose so far that I instantly seen a rainbow colored grip like pattern in the vision of both eyes. I freaked out. "What you do to me" i ask. He just snickered and asked if I had history of mental illness! A cyst and infection totaly withheld from my knowlege for 2.5yrs. When confronted they deny any treatment, give no alternatives, no formal notification of this either. I had to pay 900 to a nurse advocacy just to get the letter that the ENTs wrote to themselves after the basic dentist who caused the cyst asked if they could make sure the cyst was not the cause?! Am I crazy or am I getting systematically screwed over hear!! Im now having head and its features moving. Eye is further tha other. Lazy eye is my good eye now. Ears at least 1 or 2 cm lower than other. And then the mess that 20 rounds of antibiotics has caused! But those are all undiagnosed as im not being treated by any DR. Any one know a good malpractice lawyer? I even have multiple billing sent to insurance that never happened or was given. Even the rookie Dr that i was her first patient billed almost 300 and I never had the 5 sided color matched filling. I have the chip i always did. Health worsening and need help.