Expanded, chronically obstructed sinus, lined by normal respiratory epithelium and completely filled with mucus
From Latin "muco" (mucus) + Greek "kele" (tumor) = "mucous tumor"
Obstructed sinus and complete opacification without marginal bony expansion not considered mucocele
IMAGING
General Features
Radiographic Findings
CT Findings
MR Findings
Imaging Recommendations
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
PATHOLOGY
General Features
Staging, Grading, & Classification
Gross Pathologic & Surgical Features
Microscopic Features
CLINICAL ISSUES
Presentation
Demographics
Natural History & Prognosis
Treatment
DIAGNOSTIC CHECKLIST
Consider
Image Interpretation Pearls
Selected References
Plantier DB et al: Mucocele: Clinical characteristics and outcomes in 46 operated patients. Int Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 23(1):88-91, 2019
Al-Qudah M: Image-guided sinus surgery in sinonasal pathologies with skull base/orbital erosion. J Craniofac Surg. 26(5):1606-8, 2015
Lee JC et al: Computed tomography image guidance for more accurate repair of anterior table frontal sinus fractures. J Craniofac Surg. 26(1):e64-7, 2015
Samil KS et al: Nasal cavity and paranasal sinus diseases affecting orbit. J Craniofac Surg. 26(4):e348-51, 2015
Aghakhanyan G et al: Delayed post-traumatic fronto-ethmoidal sinus mucocele evaluated with short and long TE MR spectroscopy. Neuroradiol J. 26(6):693-8, 2013
Lee JT et al: Intracranial mucocele formation in the context of longstanding chronic rhinosinusitis: a clinicopathologic series and literature review. Allergy Rhinol (Providence). 4(3):e166-75, 2013
Scangas GA et al: The natural history and clinical characteristics of paranasal sinus mucoceles: a clinical review. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 3(9):712-7, 2013
Devars du Mayne M et al: Sinus mucocele: natural history and long-term recurrence rate. Eur Ann Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Dis. 129(3):125-30, 2012
Soon SR et al: Sphenoid sinus mucocele: 10 cases and literature review. J Laryngol Otol. 124(1):44-7, 2010
Khalil SH et al: Clinico-radiological considerations in the treatment of frontal sinus mucoceles. Rev Laryngol Otol Rhinol (Bord). 130(4-5):267-71, 2009
Lee TJ et al: Extensive paranasal sinus mucoceles: a 15-year review of 82 cases. Am J Otolaryngol. 30(4):234-8, 2009
Sadiq SA et al: Ophthalmic manifestations of paranasal sinus mucocoeles. Int Ophthalmol. 29(2):75-9, 2009
Sautter NB et al: Paranasal sinus mucoceles with skull-base and/or orbital erosion: is the endoscopic approach sufficient? Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 139(4):570-4, 2008
Som PM et al: Interfrontal sinus septal cell: a cause of obstructing inflammation and mucoceles. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 29(7):1369-71, 2008
Fu CH et al: The difference in anatomical and invasive characteristics between primary and secondary paranasal sinus mucoceles. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 136(4):621-5, 2007
Herndon M et al: Presentation and management of extensive fronto-orbital-ethmoid mucoceles. Am J Otolaryngol. 28(3):145-7, 2007
Andre E et al: MR spectroscopy in sinus mucocele: N-acetyl mimics of brain N-acetylaspartate. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 27(10):2210-3, 2006
Eggesbø HB: Radiological imaging of inflammatory lesions in the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses. Eur Radiol. 16(4):872-88, 2006
Nicollas R et al: Pediatric paranasal sinus mucoceles: etiologic factors, management and outcome. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 70(5):905-8, 2006
Khong JJ et al: Endoscopic sinus surgery for paranasal sinus mucocoele with orbital involvement. Eye. 18(9):877-81, 2004
Kosling S et al: Mucoceles of the sphenoid sinus. Eur J Radiol. 51(1):1-5, 2004
Landsberg R et al: Magnetic resonance imaging--aided navigation in endoscopic sinus surgery of a bone-destructive sphenoclinoid mucocele. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 112(8):740-4, 2003
Lloyd G et al: Optimum imaging for mucoceles. J Laryngol Otol. 114(3): 233-6, 2000
Nakasato T et al: Virtual CT endoscopy in determining safe surgical entrance points for paranasal mucoceles. J Comput Assist Tomogr. 24(3): 486-92, 2000
Rombaux P et al: Endoscopic endonasal surgery for paranasal sinus mucoceles. Acta Otorhinolaryngol Belg. 54(2): 115-22, 2000
Busaba NY et al: Maxillary sinus mucoceles: clinical presentation and long-term results of endoscopic surgical treatment. Laryngoscope. 109(9): 1446-9, 1999
Weissman JL et al: Double mucocele of the paranasal sinuses. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 15(7): 1263-4, 1994
Van Tassel P et al: Mucoceles of the paranasal sinuses: MR imaging with CT correlation. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 153(2):407-12, 1989
Field HJ et al: Characterization of latent infections in mice inoculated with herpes simplex virus which is clinically resistant to acyclovir. Antiviral Res. 4(1-2):43-52, 1984
Hesselink JR et al: Evaluation of mucoceles of the paranasal sinuses with computed tomography. Radiology. 133(2):397-400, 1979
Related Anatomy
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Related Differential Diagnoses
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References
Tables
Tables
KEY FACTS
Imaging
Top Differential Diagnoses
Pathology
Clinical Issues
TERMINOLOGY
Definitions
Expanded, chronically obstructed sinus, lined by normal respiratory epithelium and completely filled with mucus
From Latin "muco" (mucus) + Greek "kele" (tumor) = "mucous tumor"
Obstructed sinus and complete opacification without marginal bony expansion not considered mucocele
IMAGING
General Features
Radiographic Findings
CT Findings
MR Findings
Imaging Recommendations
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
PATHOLOGY
General Features
Staging, Grading, & Classification
Gross Pathologic & Surgical Features
Microscopic Features
CLINICAL ISSUES
Presentation
Demographics
Natural History & Prognosis
Treatment
DIAGNOSTIC CHECKLIST
Consider
Image Interpretation Pearls
Selected References
Plantier DB et al: Mucocele: Clinical characteristics and outcomes in 46 operated patients. Int Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 23(1):88-91, 2019
Al-Qudah M: Image-guided sinus surgery in sinonasal pathologies with skull base/orbital erosion. J Craniofac Surg. 26(5):1606-8, 2015
Lee JC et al: Computed tomography image guidance for more accurate repair of anterior table frontal sinus fractures. J Craniofac Surg. 26(1):e64-7, 2015
Samil KS et al: Nasal cavity and paranasal sinus diseases affecting orbit. J Craniofac Surg. 26(4):e348-51, 2015
Aghakhanyan G et al: Delayed post-traumatic fronto-ethmoidal sinus mucocele evaluated with short and long TE MR spectroscopy. Neuroradiol J. 26(6):693-8, 2013
Lee JT et al: Intracranial mucocele formation in the context of longstanding chronic rhinosinusitis: a clinicopathologic series and literature review. Allergy Rhinol (Providence). 4(3):e166-75, 2013
Scangas GA et al: The natural history and clinical characteristics of paranasal sinus mucoceles: a clinical review. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 3(9):712-7, 2013
Devars du Mayne M et al: Sinus mucocele: natural history and long-term recurrence rate. Eur Ann Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Dis. 129(3):125-30, 2012
Soon SR et al: Sphenoid sinus mucocele: 10 cases and literature review. J Laryngol Otol. 124(1):44-7, 2010
Khalil SH et al: Clinico-radiological considerations in the treatment of frontal sinus mucoceles. Rev Laryngol Otol Rhinol (Bord). 130(4-5):267-71, 2009
Lee TJ et al: Extensive paranasal sinus mucoceles: a 15-year review of 82 cases. Am J Otolaryngol. 30(4):234-8, 2009
Sadiq SA et al: Ophthalmic manifestations of paranasal sinus mucocoeles. Int Ophthalmol. 29(2):75-9, 2009
Sautter NB et al: Paranasal sinus mucoceles with skull-base and/or orbital erosion: is the endoscopic approach sufficient? Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 139(4):570-4, 2008
Som PM et al: Interfrontal sinus septal cell: a cause of obstructing inflammation and mucoceles. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 29(7):1369-71, 2008
Fu CH et al: The difference in anatomical and invasive characteristics between primary and secondary paranasal sinus mucoceles. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 136(4):621-5, 2007
Herndon M et al: Presentation and management of extensive fronto-orbital-ethmoid mucoceles. Am J Otolaryngol. 28(3):145-7, 2007
Andre E et al: MR spectroscopy in sinus mucocele: N-acetyl mimics of brain N-acetylaspartate. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 27(10):2210-3, 2006
Eggesbø HB: Radiological imaging of inflammatory lesions in the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses. Eur Radiol. 16(4):872-88, 2006
Nicollas R et al: Pediatric paranasal sinus mucoceles: etiologic factors, management and outcome. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 70(5):905-8, 2006
Khong JJ et al: Endoscopic sinus surgery for paranasal sinus mucocoele with orbital involvement. Eye. 18(9):877-81, 2004
Kosling S et al: Mucoceles of the sphenoid sinus. Eur J Radiol. 51(1):1-5, 2004
Landsberg R et al: Magnetic resonance imaging--aided navigation in endoscopic sinus surgery of a bone-destructive sphenoclinoid mucocele. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 112(8):740-4, 2003
Lloyd G et al: Optimum imaging for mucoceles. J Laryngol Otol. 114(3): 233-6, 2000
Nakasato T et al: Virtual CT endoscopy in determining safe surgical entrance points for paranasal mucoceles. J Comput Assist Tomogr. 24(3): 486-92, 2000
Rombaux P et al: Endoscopic endonasal surgery for paranasal sinus mucoceles. Acta Otorhinolaryngol Belg. 54(2): 115-22, 2000
Busaba NY et al: Maxillary sinus mucoceles: clinical presentation and long-term results of endoscopic surgical treatment. Laryngoscope. 109(9): 1446-9, 1999
Weissman JL et al: Double mucocele of the paranasal sinuses. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 15(7): 1263-4, 1994
Van Tassel P et al: Mucoceles of the paranasal sinuses: MR imaging with CT correlation. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 153(2):407-12, 1989
Field HJ et al: Characterization of latent infections in mice inoculated with herpes simplex virus which is clinically resistant to acyclovir. Antiviral Res. 4(1-2):43-52, 1984
Hesselink JR et al: Evaluation of mucoceles of the paranasal sinuses with computed tomography. Radiology. 133(2):397-400, 1979
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