[Ophthalmic complications of paranasal sinus mucoceles]

This study aimed to describe ophthalmic complications of paranasal sinus mucoceles and principles of treatment.

The medical records of 25 paranasal sinus mucoceles patients (18 males, 7 females; mean age 35 years; range 20 to 62 years) that had been treated in two different ear, nose and throat clinics between the years January 2004 and June 2009 were evaluated retrospectively. Out of 22 patients of who had developed internal mucoceles in anterior paranasal sinuses, diplopia was observed in five, proptosis in four and partial loss of sight in one. Out of three patients with posterior paranasal sinus mucoceles, two developed diplopia and one developed proptosis, with loss of sight in all three. Eight patients were treated using osteoplastic flap technique and the remaining 17 were treated using endoscopic sinus surgery.

In only one patient was loss of sight permanent whereas, in all the other patients eye complications resolved.

In mucoceles that involve the posterior ethmoid and sphenoid sinuses loss of sight can be observed often because of their adjacency to the optic nerves, and loss can be permanent in advanced disease. It is possible to obtain good results in most patients treated in time with endoscopic sinus surgery and osteoplastic flep techniques.