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Frontal recess cells: a rare cause of frontal sinus pneumocoele

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2009

J F Dixon  and
B A Woodworth
J F Dixon
Affiliation:
Division of Otolaryngology, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA
B A Woodworth*
Affiliation:
Division of Otolaryngology, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA
*
Address for correspondence: Dr Bradford A Woodworth, University of Alabama – Birmingham, Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, BDB 563, 1530 3rd Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA. Fax: +1 205 934 3993 E-mail: bwoodwo@hotmail.com
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Abstract

Background and aims:

A pneumocoele is a pathologically expanding, air-containing paranasal sinus. Pneumocoeles are uncommon entities, with very few cases reported in the literature. The most plausible aetiological theory is that of a one-way valve effect allowing air into the sinus under increased pressure without pressure equilibration.

Methods:

Review of a frontal sinus pneumocoele caused by a type III frontal cell and intersinus septal cell.

Results:

We present a patient with chronic sinusitis who developed a pneumocoele of her left frontal sinus with erosion into her orbit. This patient was a habitual, chronic nose-blower with a large type III frontal cell adjacent to an intersinus septal cell.

Conclusion:

We propose the new theory that, in our patient, such cells formed a one-way valve, causing air-trapping and pathological expansion of the frontal sinus. To our knowledge, there are no previously published cases that establish an association between large frontal cells and expansion of a pneumocoele.

Keywords

Frontal SinusPneumoceleEndoscopyOtorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures
Type
Clinical Records
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 123 , Issue 9 , September 2009 , pp. 1049 - 1051
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2009

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