Clinical outcomes of surgical management of paranasal sinus mucocoeles in South-East Nigeria

Abstract

Paranasal sinus mucocoeles are uncommon, benign clinical entities. They result from obstruction of the sinus drainage ostium with accumulation of secretions within the cavity and slow progressive expansion, resulting in adjacent tissue displacement. The clinical features demonstrated are therefore dependent on the prominent direction of its expansion. Treatment is by surgical intervention to drain the mucocoele with or without extirpation of the sinus mucosa to prevent re-accumulation. Complications result from tissue damage following delay in surgical intervention. We present four cases with sinonasal mucocoeles who underwent surgical drainage and mucosal extirpation in two tertiary eye centres in South-East Nigeria. The first had lost vision prior to surgery from exposure keratopathy and globe perforation. Two had no impairment of vision. Proptosis, diplopia, chronic discharging sinus and cosmetic blemish were the prominent presenting complaints. All complaints were fully resolved following surgery. There has been no report of recurrence of symptoms during the limited follow-up period.