Paranasal Sinus Mucoceles : Surgical Management In A Nigerian Tertiary Health Institution.

Abstract

Objective: To study and review the surgical management of the mucoceles of the paranasal sinuses in a Nigerian tertiary health institution .
Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective study of surgical management of all cases of
mucoceles of the paranasal sinuses at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital Sokoto from Jan.2000 to Dec. 2005 who were seen by both departments of Otorhinolaryngology and Ophthalmology.
Results: A total number of 2242 patients were seen who had rhinosinusitis during the period. Seventy five patients(3.3%) underwent surgeries for rhinosinusitis out of which 10(13.3%) were cases of mucoceles from chronic rhinosinusitis. Nine were males and one female (male: female ratio 9:1). Their ages ranged from nine to 45 years with an average age of 25.8 years.Facial asymmetry from cystic swelling with non axial proptosis was the commonest clinical presentation. Duration of symptoms varied from three to 15 years with an average symptom duration of 6.8 years. Frontal sinus, five cases (50%)
followed by ethmoidal sinus, four cases (40%) and sphenoidal sinus, one case (16.7%) were the paranasal sinuses involved. There was no intracranial extension. Chronic rhinosinusitis was the only identifiable remote predisposing factor. External sinus surgeries (fronto-ethmoidectomy, and sphenoidectomy through different transfacial approaches) along with reconstruction of sinus drainage pathway were carried out with no complication or recurrence post-operatively.
Conclusion: Mucoceles of the paranasal sinuses require appropriate surgical technique for adequate exposure and drainage in order to avoid recurrence.

Keywords: Mucoceles, Paranasal sinus, Rhinosinusitis

Nigerian Journal of Plastic Surgery Vol. 3 (2) 2007: pp. 47-53