A case of acute unilateral maxillary atelectasis following endoscopic pituitary surgery

•Maxillary atelectasis has traditionally been described as a chronic, progressive pathology.•This case report challenges the traditional definition of maxillary atelectasis.•Atelectasis developed acutely following endoscopic transnasal transsphenoidal pituitary surgery.•Combined with other cases of maxillary atelectasis developing acutely the potential pathophysiology of the disease is challenged.