Frontal sinus encephalocele: Case report and review of literature

Abstract

Anterior encephaloceles are rare congenital abnormalities that ccur most commonly in southeast Asia and are characterized y herniation of intracranial components through the cranial and acial bones due to a defect of closure of the anterior neuropore f the neural tube [1]. Congenital anterior encephaloceles are clasified by their location such as fronto-ethmoidal, trans-ethmoidal asopharyngeal, or orbital [1]. Acquired encephaloceles can also ccur later in life secondary to tumor, hydrocephalus or other cause 2]. Seizures may be the presenting complaint in a wide variety of ntracranial pathology; thus new onset seizures should prompt a horough work up [3]. Seizures present as provoked or unprovoked vents with recurrent unprovoked seizures defining epilepsy. New nset seizures in an adult should prompt neuroimaging to assess or structural anatomic abnormalities [3]. We report the unusual case of a 38 year-old woman who preented to medical attention with new onset seizures, was found o have an opacified right frontal sinus, which was caused by an nterior encephalocele in the right frontal sinus via a defect in the inus’s posterior wall.