Frontoethmoidal mucocele presenting as progressive enophthalmos

Korean J Ophthalmol. 2012 Jun;26(3):212-5. doi: 10.3341/kjo.2012.26.3.212. Epub 2012 May 22.

Abstract

In this case report we describe a 27-year-old man who presented with progressive enophthalmos for 5 months without any other associated ocular symptoms such as pain, diplopia, or visual disturbance. Computed tomography showed that his progressive enophthalmos originated from a frontoethmoidal mucocele and this caused destruction of the lamina papyracea and shrinkage of the ethmoidal air cell. Finally the enlarged orbital space caused an inward deviation of the eyeball. Endoscopic marsupialization was successfully performed by an otolaryngologist and did not result in any ophthalmologic sequelae. Although frontoethmoidal sinus mucoceles mostly frequently originates from orbital mucoceles, enophthalmic manifestations are very rare. Enophthalmic conditions are not as responsive to surgical interventions as exophthalmic conditions.

Keywords: Enophthalmos; Sinus mucocele.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Endoscopy
  • Enophthalmos / diagnosis
  • Enophthalmos / etiology*
  • Enophthalmos / surgery
  • Ethmoid Sinus*
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Frontal Sinus*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Paranasal Sinus Diseases / complications*
  • Paranasal Sinus Diseases / diagnosis
  • Paranasal Sinus Diseases / surgery
  • Time Factors
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed