J Rhinol.
1997 Nov;4(2):154-157.
Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma of the Ethmoid Sinus: Report of a Case with Bizarre Manifestations
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Korea.
Abstract
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Mucoepidermoid carcinoma is a common malignant tumor of the major salivary glands but it rarely arises in the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses. Like other paranasal sinus carcinomas, mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the ethmoid sinus may first be noticed by the extension of tumor mass to adjacent structures such as nasal cavity, orbit, other paranasal sinuses, and anterior skull base. We recently encountered a patient with complaints of right conjunctival edema and drowsy mentality who was initially treated under the impression of the maxillary, ethmoid and sphenoid sinusitis with cavernous sinus thrombosis. The patient underwent sinus surgery for control of ethmoid and sphenoid infection that was refractory to antibiotic treatment. During the operation, there was only inflammatory mucosal thickening without any specific mass lesion. But, the final diagnosis was mucoepidermoid carcinoma of intermediate grade.