Ophthalmic manifestations of paranasal sinus mucoceles.
BACKGROUND
Paranasal sinus mucoceles are mucus-containing cysts caused by obstruction of the sinus orifice. Although such mucoceles originate in the paranasal sinuses, they are usually only associated with ophthalmic and not rhinologic symptoms. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the presence of ophthalmic manifestations in patients with paranasal sinus mucoceles, and to discuss the possible mechanisms and prognosis for such manifestations.


METHODS
Medical records for 41 patients with paranasal sinus mucoceles, who presented with ophthalmic complaints at our department over a 10-year period (1989-1999), were reviewed retrospectively. For analysis of the relationships between ophthalmic complaints and the affected paranasal sinuses, we considered the paranasal sinuses as anterior and posterior.


RESULTS
Proptosis (n = 19), periorbital pain (7), and impairment of ocular mobility (5), were common manifestations associated with mucoceles in the anterior paranasal sinuses (25 patients), while blurred vision (n = 9) and impairment of ocular mobility (3) were frequently associated with mucoceles in the posterior paranasal sinuses (11 patients). Ophthalmic complaints resolved in 38 of 41 patients (92.7%) after operation.


CONCLUSIONS
The clinical ophthalmic manifestations of paranasal sinus mucoceles correlated with the paranasal sinuses involved (i.e. anterior or posterior). Because of cranial nerve involvement, mucoceles in the posterior paranasal sinuses had a worse prognosis than those in the anterior paranasal sinuses.
Department of Otolaryngology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Chih-Chieh
CC
Tseng
Ching-Yin
CY
Ho
Shu-Ching
SC
Kao
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005094:Exophthalmos / Q000209:etiology; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009078:Mucocele / Q000150:complications*; D009801:Oculomotor Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology; D010254:Paranasal Sinus Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D012189:Retrospective Studies