Abstract
This report concerns one case of a sphenoid sinus mucocele occurring 17 years after transsphenoidal surgery for acromegaly. In 1979, a 51-year-old man was successfully operated by the transnasal transsphenoidal approach for a growth hormone (GH) adenoma 1 cm in diameter. In 1996, the patient was hospitalized for headaches and diplopia. He presented a loss of right visual acuity with paralysis of the right oculomotor nerve. The basal GH level was normal with a satisfactory decrease after oral glucose ingestion. Pituitary sellar radiography showed a disappearance of the posterior clinoid while magnetic resonance imaging revealed the existence of a bilocular, circular, homogeneous lesion of the sphenoid sinus 3 cm in diameter with a posterior and lateral extension. The diagnosis of mucocele was confirmed by surgical treatment, allowing drainage of the mucocele through a transsphenoidal approach. The drained material was composed of sinus epithelium containing many polynuclear and resorptive cells. Postoperatively, the symptoms decreased dramatically, leading to full recovery of visual function and disappearance of the headaches. Apart from the tumor recurrence, the mucocele of the sphenoid sinus can be evoked as a possible long term complication of transsphenoidal sugery for pituitary adenoma.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Received: 2 June 1998 / Accepted: 23 February 1999
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kessler, L., Legaludec, V., Dietemann, J. et al. Sphenoidal sinus mucocele after transsphenoidal surgery for acromegaly. Neurosurg Rev 22, 222–225 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/s101430050021
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s101430050021