Radiography of the maxillary sinus mucosal surface with tantalum

Experiments were made with powered Tantalum insufflated through a puncture trocar into 12 healthy maxillary sinuses and into 8 diseased sinuses. The spread of the powder was good enough to depict all the surfaces of the sinus if there was no secretion, irrespective of mucosal changes, but unsatisfactory if the sinus contained secretion. The Tantalum powder did not cause any harm to the patients and the clearance of this contrast medium gave additional information on the functional capacity of the sinus. (Authors)