Clinical analysis and surgical treatment of frontal sinus mucoceles – 10 years’ experience of seven cases

Abstract

Introduction/Objective A mucocele is a benign cystic but extremely expansive change in paranasal cavities, first described in literature by Langenbeck in 1820. The etiology of mucoceles is still a subject of debate. It is assumed that the obstruction of the frontal sinus duct and drainage impairment into the middle nasal meatus, as a consequence of a chronic infection, trauma, or tumor, represent one of the main causes of their occurrence. The aim of this study was to describe ophthalmological and clinical properties of frontal sinus mucoceles. Methods Our retrospective study covered a period of 10 years during which seven patients with mucocele in the frontal sinus were operated on. Results Predisposing factors for the appearance of frontal sinus mucoceles were observed in six out of seven patients – the existence of a previous surgical intervention in two patients, the existence of a previous injury in four, and one patient did not exhibit the existence of predisposing factors. Four out of seven mucoceles were located in the rear segments of the frontal sinus. The destruction of the anterior sinus wall was observed in one patient, while the process propagation toward the endocranium and the orbit was present in three out of the seven patients. Postoperative epistaxis was noted in two out of three patients treated with transfacial approaches. Conclusion Transcranial and transfacial approaches are treatment methods for advanced mucoceles with a present intraorbital, intracranial, and endonasal process propagation. © 2017, Serbia Medical Society. All rights reserved.