[Subdural empyema as a complication of maxillary sinusitis (description of 3 cases)].

The authors report 3 cases of subdural empyema with different course and outcome. In all of them subdural empyema developed as a complication of chronic maxillary sinusitis. In the first case a coexistent brain abscess was the cause of death. In the second case operation carried out when the patient was in extremely severe condition failed to prevent death since the diagnosis had been made too late. Complete recovery was obtained in the third case owing to early clinical diagnosis confirmed with angiography, followed by early surgical treatment of the primary focus and early craniotomy. The importance of early diagnosis is stressed and the methods of surgical treatment are discussed.