Mucocele of the Sphenoid Sinus

Mucocele of the sphenoid sinus is interesting not only because of its great rarity but also because it has usually been misdiagnosed as a malignant, neoplastic disease. Definition A mucocele of the nasal accessory sinuses has been defined as "an accumulation and retention of mucous secretion within an accessory nasal sinus, generally associated with a distention of one or more of its walls" (Dabney1). Incidence The age at which this condition occurs ranges from the second through the sixth decade of life, the average age being about 40 years. Age, therefore, is of little help in making the diagnosis. It occurs about equally in both sexes. Mucoceles are often slow in developing, so that it is often difficult to determine the time of onset of this condition. In the case reported here it developed within a period of 18 months. In all the world literature some 300 cases of