2005, Number 1
Mucous cyst in paranasal sinuses
Muñoz RC, Macías FLA, Sánchez VMA
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Language: Spanish
References: 12
Page: 5-10
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ABSTRACT
Introduction: Intracranial mucocele is a pseudo cystic lesion, described since the early 19th century, that are originated in one or more cavities in the paranasal sinuses and its evolution depends on the speed of the progressive expansion of the area involved. Chronic inflammation of the mucus is associated with an obstruction of the natural drain paths of the paranasal sinuses.Radiological Findings: Classic mucocele is a lesion that expands to the paranasal sinus due to an obstruction in the draining ostium. In mucocele originated at the supra-orbit ethmoidal recess, the horizontal portion expansion (roof of the orbit) may not be seen with common x-rays and the lesion may extend to the orbit causing eye proptosis and ophthalmoplegias, thus, this type of mucocele should be studied with Computed Tomography (CT). Frontal-ethmoidal mucocele (80%) are more common in the front ethmoidal cell groups than in the back ones, this being secondary to the fact that the front ethmoidal draining ostium is smaller than other drains in the paranasal sinuses. Ethmoidal mucocele is an expansive lesion that makes the lamina payprace slender and remodels it, in general producing a mass effect towards the orbit and the result being also the proptosis of the eye. Mucocele in the maxillar sinus (17%) shows a total opacity of the sinus on its expanded walls. Mucocele of the sphenoid sinus is less common (3%) of all the mucocele in paranasal sinuses.
Conclusions: Computed tomography is ideal to analyze the regional anatomy and extension of the lesion. Magnetic resonance is very useful when there is a need to make a differentiated diagnosis with malignant lesions or those with an atypical behavior, with invasion of critical areas such as the orbit or the intracranial cavity.
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