Fact-sheet: Mucocele of sinus
Updated on 04/23/2019 at 9:58 AM
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Definition
Benign expansile pseudocystic lesion of the paranasal sinuses with aggressive potential toward adjacent structures.
Preferentially involves the frontal and ethmoid sinuses.
Single or multiple.
Clinical features
- endosinusal phase: nonspecific findings
- extrasinusal (extension) phase: clinical signs variable depending on location
nasal obstruction, diplopia, exophthalmos, decreased visual acuity, craniofacial pain...
CT
Hypodense lesion without contrast enhancement after injection, except in cases of superinfection (thin peripheral rim).
Bone involvement +++: scalloping of the adjacent bone reflecting a slowly evolving process
MRI
Cystic lesion, most often hyperintense on both T2- and T1-weighted images (proteinaceous content).
Better allows assessment of possible intracranial extension.
Management
Surgery: marsupialization of the mucocele into the nasal cavity