External approach to frontal sinus mucocele: A forgotten technique?

• Main Author: Fernando Milhazes
• Publication Date: 2020
• Other Authors: Miranda, Daniel, Lima, António Fontes, Moreira, Filipa Carvalho, Costa, Isabel, Azevedo, Cátia, Quintas-Neves, Miguel, Dias, Luís
• Format: Article
• Language: eng
• Source: Repositórios Científicos de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (RCAAP)
• Download full: https://doi.org/10.34631/sporl.827
• topic: frontal sinus mucocele; external approach; mucocelo do seio frontal; abordagem externa

Frontal sinus mucoceles are benign, slow growing lesions capable of local bone erosion. Currently, endoscopic sinus surgery is the mainstay for its treatment, however there are still indications for an external surgical approach. Here, we focus on the indications for an external surgical approach for frontal sinus mucocele treatment. To do so, we review the patients with frontal sinus mucocele treated by this approach in Hospital de Braga from 2012 to 2019.  A total of 10 patients were treated with an external approach. All patients had a mucocele with lateral location, 90% had erosion of the external frontal sinus wall and 70% had also erosion of the posterior frontal sinus wall without intracranial extension. During follow up, no recurrence was identified so far (6-87 months). Not all patients can be treated endoscopically exclusively. In selected cases, an external approach should be considered.