Journal of Rhinology  1997;4(2):154-157

Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma of the Ethmoid Sinus: Report of a Case with Bizarre Manifestations.

Jae Yong LEE 1 ; Woo Jung KIM ; Young Ho KIM ; Sang Hoon SHIN ; Heung Man LEE ; Sang Hag LEE

Affiliations

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Keywords

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma; Ethmoid sinus

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

English

Abstract

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.