Endoscopic Findings of Fungal Ball in the Mucocele After Endonasal Transsphenoidal Surgery.

A 51-year-old woman with headache was referred to our hospital. She had a history of endonasal pituitary surgery 22 years prior and hypertension 10 years prior. The endonasal transsphenoidal pituitary approach was performed via microscopic transseptal approach. Nasal endoscopy revealed whitish cystic wall protruded from the right sphenoid sinus. Functional endoscopic sinus surgery was performed under general anesthesia. After incision of the right sphenoid ostium, yellowish mucoid discharge in the right sphenoid sinus was pushed out from the sphenoid sinus. Histopathology confirmed fungal ball in the sphenoid sinus, which is consistent with aspergillosis sinus. The presence of fungal ball and mucocele are rarely reported, but mucocele and fungal ball found after pituitary surgery are the first and therefore unique in this case.

A Rare Case of Fungal Rhinosinusitis Caused by Scedosporium apiopermum.

Fungal rhinosinusitis (FRS) is inflammation of the paranasal sinus mucosa due to fungal infections, which can be invasive or non-invasive. The occurrence of a sphenoid mucocele with a fungal ball is rare. We report a case of sphenoid sinus mucocele with a fungal ball caused by Scedosporium apiopermum in a 32-year-old female who presented to the Emergency Department with persistent headache not relieved on medications. The radiological images showed a mucocele with clival osteomyelitis. Urgent endoscopic examination and debridement was undertaken which demonstrated a mucocele with fungal ball. Microbiological examination confirmed it to be Scedosporium apiopermum.

Fungus ball within a mucocele of the sphenoid sinus: A rare entity / Bola fúngica dentro de un mucocele del seno esfenoidal: una entidad rara

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Mucocele fronto-etmoidal gigante con extensión intracraneal y orbitaria / Giant frontoethmoidal mucocele with intracranial and orbital extension

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Retrospective analysis of canine gallbladder contents in biliary sludge and gallbladder mucoceles.

The pathophysiology of canine gallbladder diseases, including biliary sludge, gallbladder mucoceles and gallstones, is poorly understood. This study aimed to evaluate the component of gallbladder contents and bacterial infection of the gallbladder in order to elucidate the pathophysiology of biliary sludge and gallbladder mucoceles. A total of 43 samples of canine gallbladder contents (biliary sludge, 21 and gallbladder mucoceles, 22) were subjected to component analysis by infrared spectroscopy, and the resultant infrared spectra were compared with that of swine mucin. Of the 43 samples, 41 were also evaluated by aerobic and anaerobic bacterial culture. The contents of 20 (95.2%) biliary sludge and 22 (100%) gallbladder mucocele samples exhibited similar infrared spectra as swine mucin. Although biliary sludge and gallbladder mucocele contents exhibited similar infrared spectra, one sample of biliary sludge (4.8%) was determined to be composed of proteins. The rate of bacterial infection of the gallbladder was 10.0% for biliary sludge and 14.3% for gallbladder mucoceles. Almost all of the identified bacterial species were intestinal flora. These results indicate that the principal components of gallbladder contents in both gallbladder mucoceles and biliary sludge are mucins and that both pathophysiologies exhibit low rates of bacterial infection of the gallbladder. Therefore, it is possible that gallbladder mucoceles and biliary sludge have the same pathophysiology, and, rather than being independent diseases, they could possibly represent a continuous disease. Thus, biliary sludge could be considered as the stage preceding the appearance of gallbladder mucoceles.

Concha Bullosa Mucopyocele: a Case Report.

Concha bullosa (CB) is among the most common anatomic variations of sinonasal anatomy. Although usually asymptomatic, CB can occasionally cause nasal obstruction or headache. Obstructions within the mucociliary transport system can develop into a mucocele or mucopyocele. A 48-year-old female, with a history of progressive headache and nasal obstruction, was referred to our department. Paranasal sinus tomography revealed a nasal mass in the left nasal cavity resembling a mucopyocele in the middle turbinate. Under general anesthesia, the purulent material was aspirated, and the lateral part of the left turbinate was resected. Mucopyoceles are common within the paranasal sinuses, but uncommon with CB; thus, they should be considered in patients with a large hyperemic nasal mass.

Fungal ball within Onodi cell mucocele causing visual loss.

The Onodi cell is a pneumatized posterior ethmoid cell located laterally and superiorly to the sphenoid sinus and closely related to the optic nerve. A mucocele is a benign, expansile, cystlike lesion of the paranasal sinuses that is filled with mucoid secretion. Therefore, optic neuropathy caused by an infected mucocele in an Onodi cell is uncommon. Furthermore, fungal infection superimposed on an Onodi cell mucocele is extremely rare and has not been reported previously. Here, we describe the first case of fungal ball within Onodi cell mucocele causing visual loss, which was completely removed via transnasal endoscopic approach.

Concha bullosa mucocele and mucopyocele: a series of 4 cases.

Concha bullosa is an aerated turbinate in the nose. It is a common anatomic variant that can develop a mucocele if obstructed, which can further progress to become a mucopyocele if infected. A mucopyocele can expand and cause destruction of neighboring tissues. A review of the literature revealed only 10 cases previously reported. We describe 2 cases of mucocele and 2 cases of mucopyocele.

A rare case of recurrent frontal osteoma complicated by mucopyocele with an unusual organism, Moraxella catarrhalis.

OBJECTIVE: We report a rare case of recurrent frontal osteoma complicated by mucopyocele and intracranial abscess. Furthermore, we report an unusual organism, Moraxella catarrhalis, as the infectious agent. Finally, we demonstrate that endovascular embolization may be part of the treatment paradigm of frontal osteomas in selected cases. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 71-year-old man with a previous history of craniotomy presented to the emergency room with 24 hours of headache episodes, confusion, lethargy, and spells of low-grade fever. Imaging and angiography revealed a complex frontal lesion involving the frontoethmoidal sinuses that extended into the medial orbit and anterior skull base with multiple feeding vessels from the middle meningeal artery. The initial diagnosis of recurrent meningioma was made based on imaging data. The patient underwent partial angiographic embolization of the lesion followed by microneurosurgical complete resection. Pathology revealed a synchronous presentation of an osteoma and mucopyocele with intracranial abscess caused by M. catarrhalis. CONCLUSION: Synchronous presentation of a frontal osteoma with mucopyocele is a rare event. However, the case of a recurrent osteoma complicated by infection with M. catarrhalis has not been reported in the literature, nor a treatment paradigm that included preoperative partial endovascular embolization.

Giant dacryocystomucopyocele in an adult: a review of lacrimal sac enlargements with clinical and histopathologic differential diagnoses.

Dacryocystocele is an umbrella term that refers to any diffuse, centrifugal enlargement of the lacrimal sac that results from combined proximal and distal obstructions in the tear drainage system. In adults, the presence of mucus in the cyst's contents leads to the modified term of dacryocystomucocele. If infection supervenes, which almost always occurs in protracted cases and adds the clinical dimension of a dacryocystitis, then a dacryocystomucopyocele is created. Dacryocystocele and its congeners are much rarer in adults than in children. We describe a 95-year-old woman with an acquired, enormous dacryocystomucopyocele, larger than any previously reported, that developed over 25 years and produced globe displacement with an associated conspicuous enlargement of the nasolacrimal duct. The aspirated sac fluid was mucopurulent and harbored low-virulence bacterial organisms of the Prevotella and Petosteptococcus species. In infants, dacryocystoceles are transitory as the result of spontaneously reversible factors. In adults, secondary proximal irreversible fibrotic strictures or bony changes around the nasolacrimal duct typically arise from chronic inflammation or low grade infection. Other possible causations of duct obstruction, in addition to florid mucosal edema, include encroachment on the duct by enlarged contiguous ethmoid air cells; a sinus mucocele or sinusitis; idiopathic, post-traumatic or dysplastic bony remodeling of the wall of the duct; and a neoplasm-all of which require some form of surgical intervention, typically dacryocystorhinostomy. The differential diagnosis of medial canthal swellings centered on the lacrimal sac spans malformations, diverticula, dermoid/epidermoid cysts, sac inflammations/infections causing swelling without generalized sac enlargement, encephaloceles and primary epithelial tumors, as well as extrinsic tumors impinging on the sac.

Fungus ball within a mucocele of the sphenoid sinus and infratemporal fossa: case report with radiological findings.

OBJECTIVE: We report an extremely rare case of a fungus ball within a mucocele of the sphenoid sinus and infratemporal fossa. CASE REPORT: A 62-year-old woman was referred for evaluation of a mass lesion in the left sphenoid sinus and infratemporal fossa. Endoscopic examination of the nasal cavity was unremarkable. Computed tomography showed a non-enhancing, expansile mass with calcifications in the sphenoid and infratemporal fossa; T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging revealed marked hypointense signals within the sphenoid sinus mass, with an intermediate signal intensity. A presumptive diagnosis of a mucocele was made. During surgery, a profuse amount of yellow fluid was drained from the mucocele. Clay-like material was noted within the mucocele, corresponding to the hypointense magnetic resonance imaging signals; this was identified as aspergillus on histopathological examination. Radiological findings for a fungus ball within a mucocele can be similar to those for allergic fungal sinusitis, which shows mixed low and high attenuation on computed tomography and low-signal intensity on T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging, within an expansile, cystic lesion. CONCLUSION: Although an association between a fungus ball and a mucocele is rare in the paranasal sinuses, this disease entity should be considered in the differential diagnosis of expansile, cystic sinus lesions.

Congenital nasolacrimal duct mucocele--a case report.

Congenital nasolacrimal duct mucocele (CNDM) is a very rare condition in newborns. Prolapse or expansion of the mucocele into the nose may lead to respiratory distress and difficulty in feeding. The triad of cystic medial canthal mass, dilatation of the nasolacrimal duct and a contiguous sub-mucosal nasal mass on computed tomography (CT) is indicative in the diagnosis of CNDM. The case of a five-week-old girl with infected CNDM is described. The authors aim to emphasize the very rare incidence of CNDM in Polish newborns, delayed diagnosis in the case described and the paramount importance of CT of the head for the correct diagnosis and treatment.

Focal intracranial infections due to Actinomyces species in immunocompetent patients: diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.

OBJECTIVE: Actinomyces spp. are often underestimated as causes of central nervous system infection because they are not looked for routinely and are difficult to detect. We try to determine the optimal management of these problematic intracranial infectious diseases in neurosurgical practice. METHODS: Five cases of intracranial suppurations due to Actinomyces spp. treated between December 2007 and February 2009 are reported. The relevant clinicobacteriologic features and treatment outcomes are analyzed. RESULTS: There were two brain abscesses, two subdural empyemas, and one frontal sinus pyomucocele with intracranial extension. Among them, three cases were previously operated and two patients were previously treated for otorhinolaryngeal infection. All cases were immunocompetent. In addition to Actinomyces sp., three patients had coinfectious bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus warneri, and Escherichia coli). Complete resolution of the infection was achieved by means of aggressive surgical treatment and relatively short course of antibiotic therapy with a full recovery. CONCLUSION: Actinomycotic focal cerebral infections may occur with greater frequency than previously recognized. Polymicrobial bacteria may be seen. This rare anaerobic organism should be considered in patients with a history of head trauma, previous surgery, or otorhinolaryngeal infection who present with a long duration of neurologic symptoms with or without an accompanying fever. Patients may be candidates for surgical debridement with relative shorter term of antibiotic therapy (ciprofloxacin).

[Endoscopic surgical treatment of patients with isolated sphenoid sinus disease]. / Endoskopowe leczenie chorych z izolowanymi stanami patologicznymi zatoki klinowej.

INTRODUCTION: Cases of isolated lesions of the sphenoid sinus are rare. For descriptive purposes, clinicians divide them into inflammatory and non-inflammatory with prevalence of the former. Symptoms of the sphenoid sinus disease are difficult to characterise, the most common of them being vague headache and visual disturbances. Thorough preoperative evaluation of the lesion is essential - nasal endoscopy must be performed and computerised tomography or magnetic resonance imaging results analysed. The purpose of the study is to present the assessment of endoscopic surgery outcome in the own group of patients with isolated sphenoid disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Clinical data of 22 subjects were analysed retrospectively. There were 5 patients with bacterial sinusitis, 6 with fungal sinusitis, 4 with allergic thickening of the mucous membrane with no evidence of bacterial or fungal infection, 2 with mucocele, 1 with sphenoid osteoma, 1 with inverted papilloma, 1 with a foreign body and 2 with cerebral fluid fistula. Each patient had preoperative nasal endoscopy and CT/MRI imaging performed. Then they underwent endoscopic transnasal sphenoethmoidectomy with removal of the lesion or closure of the fistula. The sphenoid sinus was approached through its front wall. RESULTS: The patients' postoperative course was uneventful. They noted improvement in all preoperative symptoms, except for bilateral oculomotor nerve paralysis in one individual, and were asymptomatic to ophthalmological examination. CONCLUSIONS: Isolated lesions of the sphenoid sinus, even very rare tumours like those presented here, can be in most cases safely approached and removed endoscopically. All risks of the method must be considered prior to the operation. High frequency of fungal sinusitis should be noted.

Streptococcus salivarius meningitis and sphenoid sinus mucocele. Case report and literature review.

We report a case of meningitis caused by Streptococcus salivarius in a 49-year-old woman with a previously undiagnosed cerebrospinal fluid fistula due to a sphenoid mucocele. We reviewed the literature concerning meningitis caused by this uncommon organism and to the best of our knowledge this is the first case of S. salivarius meningitis associated with sphenoid mucocele.

Primary frontal sinus aspergillosis: an uncommon occurrence.

Primary frontal sinus aspergillosis is extremely uncommon with only few cases reported in the English literature. Isolated frontal sinus aspergillosis is usually asymptomatic and produces symptoms due to orbital or intracranial involvement. We report two cases of primary frontal sinus aspergillosis, presenting as frontoethmoidal mucocele and mimicking a 'Pott's puffy tumor,' respectively. Forehead swelling produced by frontal sinus aspergillosis will be the first to be reported in the English literature.

Mucoceles de los senos paranasales. Presentación de 10 casos y revisión de la literatura / No disponible

Los mucoceles tienen su origen en una obstrucción de los conductos de drenaje de los senos paranasales con retención de exudado mucinoso, en ocasiones purulento, y adelgazamiento progresivo más destrucción gradual de las paredes óseas. Presentamos una revisión propia de 10pacientes con este diagnóstico, 6 varones y 4 mujeres, con una edad media de 51 años. En 6 casos el mucocele se localizaba a nivel fronto-etmoidal; en 3, a nivel maxilar y un paciente fue diagnosticado de mucocele esfenoidal. Las manifestaciones clínicas oculares (diplopía, exoftalmos y desplazamiento del globo ocular) fueron las más frecuentes junto con la cefalea. El tipo de cirugía ,realizada en 9 ocasiones, varió en función de la localización de la lesión(C.E.N.F. con marsupialización, etmoidectomía externa,Caldwell-Luc). Realizamos un seguimiento clínico-evolutivo de los pacientes y una revisión de la literatura al respecto

Mucoceles have been origined by blockage of the paranasal sinuses ostium with mucinous retention in side, sometimes purulent, and progressive slimming more gradual destruction on the bone walls. We report an own review of 10 patients with that diagnosis, 6 males and 4females, 51-years average. The mucocele was located infrontal ethmoidal level in 6 cases; 3 for maxillary sinus and one patient was diagnosed as sphenoidal mucocele.The oftalmologic clinical symptoms (diplopia, exoftalmosand the eyeball movement) were the most frequent jointlyto cefalea. The kind of surgery that we have performed, in9 times, was variable according to the lesional location (F. E. S. with marsupialization, extern ethmoidectomy, Caldwell-Luc approach). A clinical and evolutive followuphas been made besides a literature review at this respect

Isolated inflammatory sphenoid sinus disease in children.

Isolated inflammatory disease of the sphenoid sinus is very uncommon in the pediatric population. A 10-year review of all patients at our institution 16 years of age or younger with inflammatory sphenoid sinus disease found 8 patients with isolated sphenoid sinusitis and 3 with sphenoid mucoceles. The most common symptoms were headache and visual disturbance. Five patients with uncomplicated sinusitis were successfully managed medically, while 3 with either complicated sinusitis or sinusitis not responding to antibiotics were treated by endoscopic sphenoidotomy. All patients with a mucocele were treated surgically. Isolated inflammatory sphenoid sinusitis should be considered in children age 7 years or older who present with headache that does not respond to simple analgesia. Delayed diagnosis and advanced disease may lead to life-threatening complications.