Endoscopic sinus surgery for paranasal sinus mucocoele with orbital involvement

PURPOSE: To evaluate the results of endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) for paranasal sinus mucocoele with orbital involvement and assess the frequency with which a direct orbital approach is required in these cases. METHODS: Retrospective, consecutive series of sinus mucocoeles with orbital involvement treated by ESS by a single surgeon over a 4-year period (1998-2002). RESULTS: A total of 24 mucocoeles of 15 patients, including 10 frontal, eight frontoethomoidal, two ethmoidal, and four maxillary. All cases demonstrated radiological orbital extension. Globe displacement was seen in 73%. At a median follow-up of 15.5 months, the mean cumulative clinical score improved from 4.2 +/- 1.5 (range 1-7) to 0.4+/-0.7 (range 0-2). Ophthalmic symptoms and signs resolved in all patients but one who had complex sinus anatomy following neurosurgery. Minor, self-limiting complications including epistaxis and intranasal adhesions occurred in three cases. Additional endoscopic sinus surgery was required in four patients for revision of narrowed frontal sinus ostium (two), mucocoele recurrence (two), and sinus toileting (one). No cases required external sinus surgery and the average hospital in-patient stay was 2.5 +/- 1.6 days. At final follow-up, sinus ostia were patent in all excluding one case that required a stent due to disrupted anatomy. CONCLUSION: ESS is effective in improving ophthalmic symptoms and signs due to paranasal sinus mucocoele. ESS may be a viable treatment for paranasal sinus mucocoele with orbital extension, and a direct orbital approach is rarely necessary.