Sphenoid sinus mucocele--rupture causing brainstem inflammation and stroke.
BACKGROUND
Posterior rupture of a sphenoid sinus mucocele is a rare cause of brainstem injury.


METHODS
Case report.


RESULTS
A healthy young woman with a history of prior surgical excision of nasal polyps presented with a headache and evolving neurologic symptoms. The clinical presentation and imaging studies were consistent with a posterior rupture of a large sphenoid mucocele with subsequent inflammatory changes in the brainstem and evidence of brainstem stroke. Relatively rapid recovery coincided temporally with the resolution of local inflammation. Longer-term recovery continued over months, as expected following stroke.


CONCLUSIONS
Posterior rupture of a sphenoid sinus mucocele may cause brainstem injury by multiple mechanisms.
Busche
Kevin
K
Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Division of Neurology), Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Morrish
William F
WF
D000328:Adult; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000473:pathology*; D020526:Brain Stem Infarctions / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008581:Meningitis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D009078:Mucocele / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous / Q000150:complications; D013064:Speech Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D013101:Sphenoid Sinus / Q000473:pathology*; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome