Sphenoid Sinus Fungal Balls

2007 ◽  
Vol 116 (7) ◽  
pp. 514-519 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Bowman ◽  
Benedict Panizza ◽  
Mitesh Gandhi

Objectives: We sought to examine the nature of fungal balls of the sphenoid sinus, in particular the exposure of adjacent skull base structures and the potential for surgical morbidity. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed our series of 17 cases of sphenoid sinus fungal balls seen between 1998 and 2005 with reference to their diagnosis, radiologic changes, histopathology, and surgical management. Results: Exposed structures included the pituitary fossa, cavernous sinus, and cavernous internal carotid artery, but this exposure did not result in an increase in perioperative complications. Sclerotic thickening of the sinus walls persisted, probably representing a chronic osteitis in response to concurrent bacterial infection. This appeared to be protective against further sinus wall erosions. Wall erosions did not heal. One patient demonstrated what appeared to be invasive fungal disease from a fungal ball. Conclusions: Sphenoid sinus fungal balls can occur with minimal symptoms in a mainly elderly population and require surgical removal. Sphenoid sinus fungal balls have a low rate of operative morbidity and should be effectively managed by transnasal endoscopic sphenoidotomy alone.

1995 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-14
Author(s):  
Darrell Kotton ◽  
Bernard Kotton ◽  
A.L. Itani

Recurrent epistaxis can be a rare presentation of ruptured internal carotid artery aneurysm. Although primarily a neurosurgical problem, these cases may be seen initially by the otolaryngologist, as the aneurysm erodes through the thin adjacent sphenoid sinus wall and ruptures, producing epistaxis. In most cases these aneurysms are traumatic in origin. We present the first cited case of a nontraumatic internal carotid aneurysm, arising from the origin of the ophthalmic artery, which presented as intermittent epistaxis from the sphenoid sinus. We suggest that aneurysmal rupture be considered in the differential diagnosis of all cases of epistaxis from the sphenoid sinus. Nasal endoscopy and CT scan of the paranasal sinuses in non-emergent cases is valuable in localizing the source of the bleed. Furthermore, preoperative angiography is essential in making the diagnosis of aneurysm and avoiding fatal torrential hemorrhage caused by nasal surgery. Once the diagnosis is made, the definitive treatment is surgical or intravascular trapping of the aneurysm.


2017 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 239-246
Author(s):  
Sunil Manjila ◽  
Gagandeep Singh ◽  
Obinna Ndubuizu ◽  
Zoe Jones ◽  
Daniel P. Hsu ◽  
...  

The authors demonstrate the use of an endovascular plug in securing a carotid artery pseudoaneurysm in an emergent setting requiring craniotomy for a concurrent subdural empyema.They describe the case of a 14-year-old boy with sinusitis and bifrontal subdural empyema who underwent transsphenoidal exploration at an outside hospital. An injury to the right cavernous segment of the ICA caused torrential epistaxis. Bleeding was successfully controlled by inflating a Foley balloon catheter within the sphenoid sinus, and the patient was transferred to the authors’ institution. Emergent angiography showed a dissection of the right cavernous carotid artery, with a large pseudoaneurysm projecting into the sphenoid sinus at the site of arterial injury. The right internal carotid artery was obliterated using pushable coils distally and an endovascular plug proximally. The endovascular plug enabled the authors to successfully exclude the pseudoaneurysm from the circulation. The patient subsequently underwent an emergent bifrontal craniotomy for evacuation of a left frontotemporal subdural empyema and exenteration of both frontal sinuses. He made a complete neurological recovery.Endovascular large-vessel sacrifice, obviating the need for numerous coils and antiplatelet therapy, has a role in the setting of selected acute neurosurgical emergencies necessitating craniotomy. The endovascular plug is a useful adjunct in such circumstances as the device can be deployed rapidly, safely, and effectively.


2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 106-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Di Deng ◽  
Jintao Du ◽  
Feng Liu ◽  
Bing Zhong ◽  
Yixin Qiao ◽  
...  

2009 ◽  
Vol 123 (12) ◽  
pp. 1331-1337 ◽  
Author(s):  
H G Hatipoglu ◽  
M A Cetin ◽  
A Selvi ◽  
E Yuksel

AbstractObjective:This study aimed to determine whether magnetic resonance imaging has a role in the evaluation of the sphenoid sinus and internal carotid artery. In addition, we aimed to establish reference measurements for the minimal distance between the internal carotid arteries.Method:The sphenoid sinuses and neighbouring internal carotid arteries of 90 patients were evaluated using sagittal T1-weighted and axial and coronal T2-weighted magnetic resonance images.Results:Sphenoid sinus pneumatisation was categorised as occipitosphenoidal (0 per cent), conchal (3.3 per cent), presellar (14.4 per cent) or sellar (82.2 per cent). The internal carotid artery protruded into the sphenoid sinus in 32.8 per cent, with a septum in 9.4 per cent. The incidence of sellar-type sphenoid sinus pneumatisation was higher in patients with protrusion of the internal carotid artery into the sphenoid sinus (p < 0.001). The incidence of presellar pneumatisation was higher in patients without internal carotid artery protrusion (p < 0.001). The minimal distance between the internal carotid arteries varied between 9.04 and 24.26 mm (mean, 15.94 mm).Conclusion:Magnetic resonance imaging can provide useful information about the sphenoid sinus and internal carotid artery, prior to endoscopic sphenoidotomy and trans-sphenoidal hypophysectomy.


2008 ◽  
Vol 63 (suppl_4) ◽  
pp. ONS210-ONS239 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shigeyuki Osawa ◽  
Albert L. Rhoton ◽  
Necmettin Tanriover ◽  
Satoru Shimizu ◽  
Kiyotaka Fujii

Abstract Objective: The petrous segment of the internal carotid artery has been exposed in the transpetrosal, subtemporal, infratemporal, transnasal, transmaxillary, transfacial, and a variety of transcranial approaches. The objective of the current study was to examine anatomic features of the petrous carotid and its branches as related to the variety of approaches currently being used for its exposure. Methods: Twenty middle fossae from adult cadaveric specimens were examined using magnification of ×3 to ×40 after injection of the arteries and veins with colored silicone. Results: The petrous carotid extends from the entrance into the carotid canal of the petrous part of the temporal bone to its termination at the level of the petrolingual ligament laterally and the lateral wall of the sphenoid sinus medially. The petrous carotid from caudal to rostral was divided into 5 segments: posterior vertical, posterior genu, horizontal, anterior genu, and anterior vertical. Fourteen (70%) of the 20 petrous carotids had branches. The branch that arose from the petrous carotid was either a vidian or periosteal artery or a common trunk that gave rise to both a vidian and 1 or more periosteal arteries. The most frequent branch was a periosteal artery. Conclusion: An understanding of the complex relationships of the petrous carotid provides the basis for surgically accessing any 1 or more of its 5 segments.


2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 503-513 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gmaan Alzhrani ◽  
Nicholas Derrico ◽  
Hussam Abou-Al-Shaar ◽  
William T Couldwell

Abstract BACKGROUND Surgical removal of cavernous sinus meningiomas is challenging and associated with high morbidities as a result of the anatomic location and the surrounding neurovascular structures that are often invaded or encased by the tumor. Advances in radiotherapy techniques have led to the adoption of more conservative approaches in the management of cavernous sinus meningioma. Internal carotid artery encasement and invasion has been documented in these cases; however, ischemic presentation secondary to internal carotid artery stenosis or occlusion by meningioma in the region of the cavernous sinus is rare, with only few cases reported in the literature. OBJECTIVE To report our surgical technique and experience with bypass grafting for cavernous sinus meningiomas that invade or narrow the internal carotid artery. METHODS We report 2 patients who presented with signs and symptoms attributed to cavernous carotid artery occlusion secondary to cavernous sinus meningioma in the last 5 yr. Both patients were treated with flow augmentation without surgical intervention for the cavernous sinus meningioma. RESULTS In both cases, the clinical and radiological signs of cerebrovascular insufficiency improved markedly, and the patients’ tumors are currently being monitored. CONCLUSION Although the cerebrovascular insufficiency in this subset of patients is attributed to the occlusion of the cavernous carotid artery caused by the tumor, we propose treating those patients with flow augmentation first with or without radiation therapy when there is a clear imaging feature suggestive of meningioma in the absence of significant cranial nerve deficit.


2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 170-175
Author(s):  
Anali Dadgostar ◽  
Aneela Hashmi ◽  
Judy Fan ◽  
Amin R. Javer

Background Despite the well-appreciated variability in sphenoid sinus anatomy, there are no documented cases of retrosphenoid cells in the literature to date. Objective This study defines and determines the prevalence of retrosphenoid cells as identified on computed tomography (CT) imaging and intraoperative endoscopy and reviews the prevalence of other related anatomical variants of the sphenoid sinus. Methods Retrospective study of 300 random noncontrast sinus CT scans of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis presenting to a tertiary rhinology center. All identifiable anatomic variations and any presence of retrosphenoid cells and their pneumatization patterns were recorded. The prevalence of various anatomic variations of the sphenoid sinus was also calculated. Results A total of 300 sinus CT scans were included in the study. Protrusion of both the internal carotid artery (42.6%) and optic nerve (19.7%) into the sinus was more prevalent than the dehiscence of either one. A retrosphenoid cell was identified in 2% of CT scans. Other anatomic variants were less prevalent. Conclusion Meticulous review of preoperative imaging is key in identifying rare and complex sphenoid cell variations in planning surgical approaches and potential treatment strategies for the unusually pneumatized sphenoid air cells. Various manifestations of sinus disease can be localized to this area, and suspicion of a retrosphenoid cell should be raised in patients presenting with recalcitrant headache.


Author(s):  
Stephen Hentschel ◽  
Felix Durity

A 29-year-old male complained of a four month history of horizontal, spontaneous, and nonprogressive diplopia. On examination he had a mild left sixth nerve palsy. The rest of his general and neurologic examinations were normal.Computed tomography scanning demonstrated a nonenhancing, well-circumscribed, lesion in the left petrous apex (Figure 1). The opposite apex was well pneumatized. The lesion abutted the medial wall of the horizontal canal of the internal carotid artery and pointed towards the lateral wall of the sphenoid sinus. Unfortunately, CT bone windows were not available for this case but would have been helpful in terms of the differential diagnosis. An MRI demonstrated a predominantly high signal mass on T1 and T2 sequences (Figure 2). The diagnosis was a petrous apex granuloma.


2015 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 660-663 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed Akkari ◽  
Grégory Gascou ◽  
Vincent Trévillot ◽  
Alain Bonafé ◽  
Louis Crampette ◽  
...  

Non-traumatic cavernous internal carotid artery (ICA) aneurysms are rare, and favour the occurrence of massive recurrent epistaxis, which is associated with a high mortality rate. We report the case of a 67-year-old woman presenting a ruptured ICA aneurysm extending into the sphenoid sinus, revealed by epistaxis. Selective coil embolization of the aneurysm was performed. Flow-diverter stents were deployed in order to utterly exclude the aneurysm and prevent revascularization. Anti-platelet treatment was provided to lower the risk of in-stent thrombosis. A left frontal hematoma associated with a subarachnoid haemorrhage occurred at day 2. Outcome was favourable with no neurological sequelae, and no clinical recurrence of epistaxis occurred. A 4 months follow-up digital subtraction angiography showed a complete exclusion of the aneurysm. In addition, a magnetic resonance cerebral angiography at 16 months showed stable results. Thus, this two-stage endovascular procedure has proven its effectiveness in preventing epistaxis recurrence while preserving the ICA patency.


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