Sphenoid sinus mucocele penetrating to the orbit, anterior and middle cranial fossae and parapharyngeal space: a case report

Abstract

Mucocele, though is a common lesion, rarely penetrates to the surrounding intra- and extracranial spaces. We describe the case of 45-year-old male with 2 years history of a chronic left nasal obstruction and a concentric visual field deficit in the left eye as the only manifestations. Diagnostic CT and MRI imaging revealed a mucocele originating from the posterior ethmoid and sphenoid sinuses and penetrating intracranially to the anterior and middle cranial fossae and extracranially to the pterygopalatine fossa and the parapharyngeal space. This extensive localization appears to be an extremely rare entity, which, to our knowledge, has not been described in the English literature yet. The clinical features and a literature review are also presented.