title: Sphenoid sinus mucocele--rupture causing brainstem inflammation and stroke.
abstract: 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.
authors: Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Division of Neurology), Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors: Kevin
authors: K
authors: Busche
authors: William F
authors: WF
authors: Morrish
mesh_terms: 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