Delayed post-traumatic fronto-ethmoidal sinus mucocele evaluated with short and long TE MR spectroscopy

Neuroradiol J. 2013 Dec;26(6):693-8. doi: 10.1177/197140091302600613. Epub 2013 Dec 18.

Abstract

Mucoceles are slow-growing, benign, expansile, mucoid-filled masses developing after obstruction of the sinus ostium. Late post-traumatic mucoceles are relatively rare entities and the literature is limited to single case reports. We describe an unusual case of post-traumatic fronto-ethmoidal mucocele, evaluated with computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and proton MR-spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS). As a contribution to the diagnostic work-up of the mucocele, (1)H-MRS demonstrates a dominant peak at 2.0 ppm at long echo time (TE) and an additional component at 3.8 ppm at short TE due to mucus glycoprotein compounds of the mucocele.

Keywords: computed tomography; magnetic resonance imaging; magnetic resonance spectroscopy; mucocele surgery; post-traumatic mucocele.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Cranial Sinuses / pathology*
  • Cranial Sinuses / surgery
  • Craniocerebral Trauma / complications
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Male
  • Mucocele / etiology
  • Mucocele / pathology*
  • Mucocele / surgery
  • Time
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed