Abstract Introduction It has been hypothesized that increasing the interstitial hydrostatic pressure within the sinonasal mucosa of patients with nasal polyposis (NP) might decrease the size of nasal polyps. Objective To evaluate the effects of positive airway pressure, delivered by a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device, in patients with NP and in control subjects. Methods Twelve patients with NP and 27 healthy subjects were exposed to CPAP (20 cm H2O) for 2 hours. Visual analog scale (VAS), Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) scale, acoustic rhinometry (AR), peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF) and nasal endoscopy (NE-Meltzer polyp grading system) were performed before and after the intervention, for all patients. Results The control group showed a significant worsening in nasal obstruction symptoms, as measured by VAS and NOSE (p < 0.01), and a significant decrease in nasal patency, as measured by the PNIF and AR (p < 0.01). For the NP group, VAS, NOSE, and AR did not differ significantly (p = 0.72, p = 0.73, and p = 0.17, respectively), but PNIF values worsened (p = 0.04) after exposure to CPAP. There was a statistically significant reduction in the nasal polyps’ size (p = 0.04). Conclusions Positive pressure worsened the nasal obstruction symptoms and decreased objective parameters of nasal patency in control subjects. In patients with NP, exposure to CPAP reduced the nasal polyps’ size, and the nasal patency, asmeasured by PNIF. However, it had no significant effects in AR and in nasal obstruction symptoms.

Introduction  Chronic maxillary atelectasis (CMA) is characterized by a persistent decrease in the maxillary sinus volume due to inward bowing of its walls. According to its severity, it may be classified into three clinical-radiological stages. Objective  To report a case of stage II CMA associated with subclinical visual field defect. Case Report  A 34-year-old woman presented with a 15-year history of recurrent episodes of sinusitis and intermittent right facial discomfort for the past 5 years. She denied visual complaints, and no facial deformities were observed on physical examination. Paranasal sinus computed tomography (CT) demonstrated a completely opacified right maxillary sinus with inward bowing of its walls, suggesting the diagnosis of stage II CMA. A computerized campimetry (CC) disclosed a scotoma adjacent to the blind spot of the right eye, indicating a possible damage to the optic nerve. The patient was submitted to functional endoscopic sinus surgery, with drainage of a thick mucous fluid from the sinus. She did well after surgery and has been asymptomatic since then. Postoperative CT was satisfactory and CC was normal. Discussion  CMA occurs because of a persistent ostiomeatal obstruction, which creates negative pressure inside the sinus. It is associated with nasosinusal symptoms but had never been described in association with any visual field defect. It can be divided into stage I (membranous deformity), stage II (bony deformity), and stage III (clinical deformity). The silent sinus syndrome is a special form of CMA. This term should only be used to describe those cases with spontaneous enophthalmos, hypoglobus, and/or midfacial deformity in the absence of nasosinusal symptoms.