We report a case of an antral mucocoele secondary to the obstruction of its ostium by metastatic endometrial carcinoma. This is the first report of such a cause for a mucocoele, and for a metastasis from such a tumour in the head and neck.

Mucocoeles of the paranasal sinuses are relatively uncommon and in the past have been generally treated by an external surgical approach. Forty-eight mucocoeles in the frontal, fronto-ethmoidal and sphenoidal sinuses have been treated during the last five years, 20 by an entirely endonasal endoscopic approach and 28 by a combination of an external procedure and an endoscopic approach. There were no recurrences in the endoscopic group, with a mean follow-up of 34 months whilst three recurrences occurred in the combined external and endoscopic group which had a mean follow-up of 44 months. This may reflect the complexity and severity of concomitant disease. If a wide marsupialization can be achieved by an entirely endoscopic approach there are a number of advantages, notably a lack of facial scarring in children and young adults.

Sphenoid sinus mucocoeles can stimulate a variety of pathological conditions and patients can present to a range of specialists. Because of the relative rarity of sphenoid sinus mucocoeles, diagnosis is often delayed and these lesions can progressively expand and cause direct mechanical compression on adjacent structures. We present three cases which presented with an abducens nerve palsy. Early surgical intervention is advocated and these patient's symptoms resolved following surgery. Although several conditions can present with an abducens nerve palsy, it is important to consider a sphenoid sinus mucocoele in the differential diagnosis.

We describe two cases of sphenoid sinus mucocoele. Both presented with isolated oculomotor nerve palsy. Mucocoeles involving only the sphenoid sinus are uncommon. They are probably under-diagnosed as they may be asymptomatic or cause non-specific symptoms. Nasal symptoms occur infrequently but the close relationship of the sphenoid sinus to the orbital apex means that ocular symptoms including cranial nerve palsies are a common presenting feature. Involvement of the third cranial nerve in isolation is rare but has important neurosurgical implications which must be excluded before this symptom is attributed to the sphenoid sinus.

The clinicopathological features of two unusual cystic lesions, one arising in the nose, a calcified mucocoele or a calcified retention cyst and the other in the maxillary sinus a dentigerous cyst originating in a supernumerary tooth, are described. The literature on these two rare lesions is briefly reviewed.

We present an unusual case of renal cell carcinoma presenting as a periorbital mass. The presenting symptom was a supraorbital swelling which proved to be a mucocoele which had arisen secondary to a solitary metastasis in the ethmoidal sinuses. We discuss the management strategy including the place of endoscopic biopsy, the choice of investigations and craniofacial resection.

Forty-seven mucocoeles of the ethmoid and/or sphenoid sinuses (33 males, 14 females) were operated on during the 10-years period from 1980 through 1989. Thirty-seven cases were post-operative mucocoele, while the remaining 10 were so-called primary mucocoeles. None of the cases had a history of facial trauma. In the majority of post-operative cases, the mucocoele develops 15–24 years after initial surgery. Paranasal sinus surgery in young patients (teenagers) may lead to a mucocoele due to post-operative scarring in the surgical wound. The principal symptoms include globe displacement, double vision, headache, deep orbital pain, a mass in the supero-medial quadrant of the orbit, visual disturbance, etc. Sufficient opening of the mucocoele wall by the endonasal approach is recommended for surgical treatment of ethmoidal and sphenoidal mucocoeles

A case of sphenoid sinus mucocoele following radiotherapy in a patient with nasopharyngeal carcinoma is reported. Diagnosis was made by radiological investigation and confirmed at surgery performed via a sublabial transeptal approach. Its content was completely removed and continuous drainage of the sinus was maintained by an indwelling tube. It is felt that the sphenoid mucocoele developed as a result of occlusion of the sinus ostium by scarred mucosa following radiotherapy.

From a series of 118 fronto-ethmoidal mucocoeles, 40 specimes have been submitted to detained histological analysis. The Frequency of each epithelial and sub-epithelial components is considered and reveals features which support a dynamic theory of bone resorption and formation rather than that of pressure erosion in the pathogenesis of mucocoeles.