Mucocele symptoms
Diagnostics
Mucocele treatment
Operation video
Mucocele is a cystic distension of the paranasal sinus. The disease occurs due to a violation of the natural ventilation of the sinus, which is most often caused by trauma, inflammation, less often a tumor, curvature of the nasal septum. The contents of the mucocele cavity are usually mucous, less often purulent (piocele). The mucous secretion of the epithelium of the upper respiratory tract, accumulating in the paranasal sinuses, causes a gradual stretching and destruction of their bony walls. It is believed that this disease is characteristic of those sinuses that have narrow excretory canals or openings. These include the frontal sinuses, ethmoid labyrinth cells, and the main sinus. However, lesions of the maxillary sinus also occur. Given the aggressive growth, the course of the disease is accompanied by pronounced changes in the anatomy of the adjacent areas.
Mucocele symptoms
Due to the slow development, the disease is often asymptomatic at the beginning. With damage to the frontal sinus, the eyeball is displaced downward and outward, with mucocele of ethmoid cells - forward and outward, and with damage to the main sinus - forward. With endoscopy, there is a bulging of the medial wall of the sinus with unchanged mucous membrane. With the spread of mucocele into the cranial cavity, neurological symptoms appear, which depends both on the direct effect of education on the brain tissue and on the toxic effect of the contents of the mucocele on the intracranial structures.
Diagnostics
It starts with an examination by an otorhinolaryngologist and an ophthalmologist. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are mandatory. In some cases, it is necessary to consult a neurologist and neurosurgeon
Mucocele treatment
Surgical only. The operation of choice here is endoscopic intervention according to the FESS technique. The mucocele cavity is opened and a large fistula is placed between it and the nasal cavity. In the course of the operation, all the identified causes that could lead to the development of this condition should be eliminated.
