Destructive Giant Maxillary Sinus Mucocele: A Case Report

Mucoceles of the paranasal sinuses are locally aggressive, cystic, benign lesions. They mainly occur in the frontal or anterior ethmoidal sinuses, and more rarely in the maxillary sinus. Chronic sinus inflammation, trauma, previous surgery and allergic disease are common causes of paranasal mucoceles. Giant mucoceles of the maxillary sinus causing bone destruction are extremely rare in patients with no history of sinonasal surgery. Mucoceles can erode the surrounding walls of the sinus and must therefore be differentiated from malignancies. Treatment of maxillary sinus mucoceles is surgical, Caldwell-Luc being the traditional method. We describe a case of a giant maxillary sinus mucocele with complete obstruction of the right nasal cavity. There were no known etiological factors, and the lesion was treated with endoscopic sinus surgery. The clinical features and radiological aspects of this entity are discussed in the light of the current literature.