Computed tomography and MRI evaluation of mucoceles of the paranasal sinuses with reference to intracranial and extracranial extensions

ABSTRACT

15 patients with mucoceles of the paranasal sinuses were studied, the commonest sinus to be involved was the ethmoid followed by the frontal maxillary and spheno-ethmoidal, while sphenoid sinus alone was not involved. All the cases were subjected to computed tomography and only 2 cases were examined by magnetic resonance imaging. CT was usually sufficient for making diagnosis and defining the extent of the lesion, accurately demonstrating the orbital and intracranial extensions by both axial and coronal sections. All cases were explored surgically verifying the extension and the chronicity. MRI was very valuable in detecting the nature of the mucocele by high T2-Wls, while Tl-Wls differed according to the chronicity of the mucocele also MRI by its multiplanner capability demonstrated the extent of the lesion. One drawback of the MRI was its poor demonstration of the bones and calcifications of the sinuses, while high resolution CT demonstrated bone details and intracranial extension better. T2-weighted image and it displays the sinus in 3 plane imaging with direct sagittal sections