Logo American Journal of Case Reports

Call: 1.631.629.4328
Mon-Fri 10 am - 2 pm EST

Contact Us

Logo American Journal of Case Reports Logo American Journal of Case Reports Logo American Journal of Case Reports

01 October 2010

Sphenoid mucopyocele leading to blindness: Time is vision!

Josephine N. Emole, Melissa Ajunwa, Akiode Olutola, Vishal Parekh

Am 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

Add Comment 0 Comments

In Press

12 Feb 2024 : Case report  Germany

Diagnostic Challenges and Imaging Considerations for Intraparotid Facial Nerve Schwannoma: A Case Report an...

Am J Case Rep In Press; DOI: 10.12659/AJCR.942870  

0:00

12 Feb 2024 : Case report  USA

Erdheim-Chester Disease Occult on Radiographs and CT but Visible on MRI and PET

Am J Case Rep In Press; DOI: 10.12659/AJCR.941169  

0:00

12 Feb 2024 : Case report  USA

Surgical Treatment of Spontaneous Superficial Temporal Artery Arteriovenous Malformation: A Case Report

Am J Case Rep In Press; DOI: 10.12659/AJCR.942839  

13 Feb 2024 : Case report  Bahrain

Warfarin Woes: A Rare Case of Hemoperitoneum with Intramural Small Bowel Hematoma

Am J Case Rep In Press; DOI: 10.12659/AJCR.943519  

Most Viewed Current Articles

10 Jan 2022 : Case report  Germany

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  Saudi Arabia

Atlantoaxial Subluxation Secondary to SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Rare Orthopedic Complication from COVID-19

DOI :10.12659/AJCR.936128

Am J Case Rep 2022; 23:e936128

05 Mar 2022 : Case report  Brazil

Acute Limb Ischemia After Self-Injection of Crushed Morphine Tablets into the Radial Artery: Role of Infrar...

DOI :10.12659/AJCR.935336

Am J Case Rep 2022; 23:e935336

02 Apr 2022 : Case report  Saudi Arabia

Infective Endocarditis Caused by Pseudomonas luteola in a Pediatric Patient. A Case Report and Review of Li...

DOI :10.12659/AJCR.935743

Am J Case Rep 2022; 23:e935743

Your Privacy

We use cookies to ensure the functionality of our website, to personalize content and advertising, to provide social media features, and to analyze our traffic. If you allow us to do so, we also inform our social media, advertising and analysis partners about your use of our website, You can decise for yourself which categories you you want to deny or allow. Please note that based on your settings not all functionalities of the site are available. View our privacy policy.

American Journal of Case Reports eISSN: 1941-5923
American Journal of Case Reports eISSN: 1941-5923