A Case of Pneumocele in the Ethmoid Sinus / 대한이비인후과학회지

ABSTRACT

Pneumocele is the pathologic expansion of an air-containing paranasal sinus that causes thinning of the bony sinus walls and displacement of nearby structures. This abnormality probably results from a physiological block in the rapid equilibration of intrasinus air pressure through the major sinus ostium and as a result of some abnormality producing a one-way valvular mechanism. A 41-year-old man had complained of headache, diplopia and periorbital pain on left side which aggravated after nose blowing. A computed tomographic scan showed a hyperlucent, expanded left ethmoid sinus. We treated the condition by endoscopic marsupialization of the anterior ethmoid sinus. Six months later, headache and periorbital pain have subsided, but diplopia has remained.