Frontal sinus cancer manifested as a frontal mucocele

During the period 1972 to 1974, 12 frontal mucopyoceles were seen. Subsequently, three were shown to have an underlying neoplasm. Evaluation of the roentgenograms demonstrated minor differences between those with and those without a malignant basis. In previous reports of frontal sinus cancer, the descriptions of the roentgenograms suggest that it is possible that these features were also present. The difficulty in deciding the sinus of origin in such cancers has often been discussed, but the possibility that neoplasms of the orbital lobe of the lacrimal gland may occur in the frontal sinus is usually not considered. Anatomically, the intimate proximity of this lobe to the frontal sinus suggests that a neoplasm could develop in this manner. I believe that this was true in two of the patients reported herein.