title: Eyelid fistula: a feature of occult sinus disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the clinical characteristics of patients presenting with eyelid fistula as a complication of occult sinus disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review of patients presenting, to the Orbital Clinic at Moorfields Eye Hospital, with eyelid fistula due to chronic sinus disease; the review including clinical features, management and outcome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight patients presented with discharge from an upper lid or medial canthal fistula, of whom 6 had a history of variable lid swelling, 3 had ptosis and 2 had proptosis with restricted upgaze. All patients had ipsilateral frontal or ethmoid sinus opacification on CT, 5 had erosion of the bone and 2 had sinus mucocoeles. Management involved functional endoscopic sinus surgery to establish drainage of the affected sinuses and direct excision of the fistular tract.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A discharging eyelid fistula may indicate occult sinus disease, which can remain undiagnosed for long periods. There is typically a history of recurrent upper lid erythema and swelling, with spontaneous drainage through a fistula sited in the supero-medial eyelid sulcus; local features include contracture and thickening of the skin and underlying tissues around the fistula.
authors: Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, UK.
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Rossman
authors: David H
authors: DH
authors: Verity
authors: Valerie J
authors: VJ
authors: Lund
authors: Geoffrey E
authors: GE
authors: Rose
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004724:Endoscopy; D005141:Eyelid Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005402:Fistula / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010254:Paranasal Sinus Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies