retention cyst or polyp

I have been having headaches, pain in my teeth, eye area for some time now.  I have also had a sinus infection for 1 month.  I went back to the dr. and they ordered a CT Scan.  The CT Scan showed a "prominent retnetion cyst or polyp" it says the size is 3.0 cm x 2.1 cm x 1.8 cm which my dr. said is pretty much the entire left side of the maxillary sinus.  

What are my options besides surgery for this?

[ggreg]

My understanding is if a cyst in the sinus causes pain symptoms like you have, that means it is infected, and, considering the size of this thing, it must come out and it must be done by surgery.  I might add that they knock a person out and go through the nose, so you won't feel anything, there is very little danger, and there should be no stitches or anything else to remind you that you had surgery, with the exception of you won't have pain anymore once they remove any cotton bandaging.  In addition, if it is a polyp instead of a cyst, that sort of growth can lead to cancer.  I've had my nose operated on in the past, I had a cyst on the outside near the nostril, and it wasn't a particularly big deal, altho in my case, I did have stitches, a plastic surgeon did mine for appearance sake.  But yours is inside, so a regular surgeon can do the work.  I cannot imagine a reason why you wouldn't want that one-plus-inch painful thing outta there, and especially since it's dangerous to have infection so close to the brain.  I would encourage you to seek a second opinion, however, so you'll feel more confident.  But don't wait around too long to get the surgery.

[ulmergirl07]

Thanks, that what I thought too.  I'm just not that keen on having something in my body that's not supposed to be there, but thinking back, I must have had this thing a while because I've been having headaches off and on on that side for a good while.  I go to the ENT on Friday, so we shall see!

[ulmergirl07]

Well, went to the ENT and am now more confussed than ever, one minute I have a sinus infection, next minute, my symptoms don't necessarily point to a sinus infection!  Anyway, he's not concerned about the cyst, say they happen everyday.  I asked even though I have headaches, toothpain, earpain?  He states that it could be from the cyst or not!  He put me on Singulair for 2 weeks and then I go back for another CT Scan.  So I'm guessing we will be doing nothing and I will have to deal with my symptoms?

[ggreg]

Good grief, you need to visit a new doctor, this is getting out of hand here.  You cannot go around with a big old polyp blocking up an entire sinus, with dreadful symptoms accompanying it, and then wind up essentially being put "on hold."  As for the "sinus infection," that is NOT what your situation is... the polyp itself is infected, and THAT'S no good.  Forget your ENT, he doesn't know what he's doing.  Just go to the ER next time your symptoms bother you, bring any reports and whatnot with you, and let them have a go at it.  Or you could find out from your regular doc someone else who is expert in all this, perhaps in another town where there is a university hospital, and get referred to someone there.  I don't like the way you're being treated at all.  That thing has got to come out of there before it develops into something much more serious and harder to treat.

[hgower]

What happened, I am not sleeping due to this bad sinus nothing seems to work I too have the same problem, cyst and polyps, the dr says the infection needs to be cured first, before sugery, tried netty pot relieved the first time for a couple of hours and then didi not really work, trying to inhale steam with tea tree oil not much success,  on antibiotics at present, naconase nasal spray which seemed to block my nose,now another brand it is supposed to relieve the symptoms for 12 hrs, leave a bitter after taste in mouth,
Did you do your operation while the thing was infected or did you have to wait till it was cleared up before doing the operation please keep me informed driving me nuts as I am unable to sleep
Heather