Metastatic tumors to the sphenoid sinus

Patients with cranial nerve palsies and roentgenographic evidence of sphenoid sinus destruction present diagnostic problems. Although the presence of local primary neoplasms may be considered first, metastatic disease from distant sites also should be considered. We report on eight patients with metastatic tumors to the sphenoid sinus seen at the Mayo Clinic from 1950 through 1976. Primary sites of the lesions included the breast, thyroid gland, lung, kidney, and prostate (two patients). Metastatic myeloma was seen in two patients. Symptoms resulted from involvement of the structures adjacent to the sphenoid sinus and in all patients included diplopia or decreased visual acuity. In four patients, these ocular symptoms were the first sign of disease, after which a complete general examination disclosed the occult primary sites.