High concentration of beta trace and glucose in a maxillary sinus cyst

Introducion Differentiation of a liquid rhinorrhoe and a rhinoliquorrhoe can be difficult, especially if the secretion is tested positive for glucose. In literature there are no findings that specify the secretion of a maxillary cyst for the concentration of glucose and beta trace.

Methods A 16 year old male patient applied to the hospital with a slightly yellowish reccuring liquid rhinorrhoe of the left side. In a CT- and MRI scan of the skull and the paranasal sinuses only a cyst in the maxillary sinus of the left side was diagnosed.

An intraoperative puncture of the maxillary sinus cyst (MSC) and a simultaneous extraction of bloodserum was done. Both was tested for the concentration of glucose and beta trace.

Results The concentration of the MSC for glucose was 68 mg/dl and 0,74 mg/l for beta trace.

The concentration of the serum for glucose was 126 mg/dl and 0,52 mg/l for beta trace.

The ratio between the glucoseconcentration of the secetion of the MSC compared to the serum was 0,53.

The ratio between the concentration of beta trace of the secetion of the MSC compared to the serum was 1,4.

Disscusion The glucoseconcentration of a rhinorrhoe is not qualified for a diagnostic specification. The secretion had the same concentration of glucose as it occurs in the liquor.

If the beta trace concentration is below 0,68 mg/l liquor can be excluded and above 1,11 mg/l it is proven as liquor. In borderline elevated concentrations between 0,68-1,11 mg/l the ratio between the secretion and the serum is needed and is above 4,9 if it is liquor. Such a borderline concentration occurred in the secretion of the MSC.

After excessive research this is the first publication about the composition of the secretion of a MSC. The mimicry to a rhinoliquorrhoe is astonishing.

Poster-PDF A-1803.PDF

Supported by Institut für pathologie Uniklinik Aachen

Publication History

Article published online:
10 June 2020