01 October 2010
Sphenoid mucopyocele leading to blindness: Time is vision!
Josephine N. Emole, Melissa Ajunwa, Akiode Olutola, Vishal ParekhAm J Case Rep 2010; 11:179-181 :: ID: 881202
Abstract
Background: Sphenoid sinus mucoceles are rare. In many cases they are asymptomatic until they become advanced. Due to their proximity to several important neurovascular structures, sphenoid sinus mucoceles can lead to an array of compressive and inflammatory neuro-opthalmologic complications. They have also been described as mimicking pituitary tumors; as such a patient with complications of sphenoid sinuses can present to the primary care doctor, the endocrinologist, the neurologist or the ophthalmologist. Of the numerous clinical manifestations, visual loss is of the most concern as this may be irreversible.
Case Report: A middle aged woman in whom an imaging of the head revealed an incidental sphenoid mucocele presented several months after the initial imaging, with acute and worsening bilateral loss of vision. She had no endocrine abnormalities. She was immediately admitted, treated promptly with antibiotics and steroids, and underwent endoscopic surgery with marsupialization of the sphenoid sinus. Despite a successful and uneventful surgical course, she did not completely recover her vision. Several months after the surgery, her vision still remains impaired.
Conclusions: In a patient presenting with loss of vision, the suspicion of a sphenoid sinus mucocele must be entertained in the differential diagnosis. When the diagnosis of a sphenoid sinus is confirmed, it is imperative that prompt surgical treatment is undertaken as permanent blindness could result from delay in management. Pre-operative visual acuity is the sole determinant of the extent of recovery of vision. If time is wasted before surgical decompression, patients may lose their vision irreversibly.
Keywords: Sphenoid Sinus, pyomucocele, Blindness, pyomucocele
In Press
12 Feb 2024 : Case report
Erdheim-Chester Disease Occult on Radiographs and CT but Visible on MRI and PETAm J Case Rep In Press; DOI: 10.12659/AJCR.941169
12 Feb 2024 : Case report
Surgical Treatment of Spontaneous Superficial Temporal Artery Arteriovenous Malformation: A Case ReportAm J Case Rep In Press; DOI: 10.12659/AJCR.942839
13 Feb 2024 : Case report
Warfarin Woes: A Rare Case of Hemoperitoneum with Intramural Small Bowel HematomaAm J Case Rep In Press; DOI: 10.12659/AJCR.943519
13 Feb 2024 : Case report
Hemorrhagic Presentation in Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma: A Case StudyAm J Case Rep In Press; DOI: 10.12659/AJCR.942951
Most Viewed Current Articles
07 Mar 2024 : Case report
Neurocysticercosis Presenting as Migraine in the United StatesDOI :10.12659/AJCR.943133
Am J Case Rep 2024; 25:e943133
10 Jan 2022 : Case report
A Report on the First 7 Sequential Patients Treated Within the C-Reactive Protein Apheresis in COVID (CACOV...DOI :10.12659/AJCR.935263
Am J Case Rep 2022; 23:e935263
19 Jul 2022 : Case report
Atlantoaxial Subluxation Secondary to SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Rare Orthopedic Complication from COVID-19DOI :10.12659/AJCR.936128
Am J Case Rep 2022; 23:e936128
23 Feb 2022 : Case report
Penile Necrosis Associated with Local Intravenous Injection of CocaineDOI :10.12659/AJCR.935250
Am J Case Rep 2022; 23:e935250