Objective: Our goal was to describe ethmoid mucocele as a late complication of endoscopic ethmoidectomy.
Study design: This was a retrospective review of 14 patients who were diagnosed with ethmoid mucoceles after endoscopic ethmoidectomy. Reviewed data included patient demographics, indication for the original surgery, presenting symptoms, computed tomography results, surgical treatment, operative findings, and recurrence of disease.
Results: The mucoceles were diagnosed 1 to 13 years after endoscopic ethmoidectomy. The most common presenting symptom was facial pressure or pain. Twelve patients had middle meatal adhesions. A round mass was seen by endoscopy in the ethmoid cavity in 5 patients. Nine mucoceles were located in the anterior ethmoid and 3 were located in the posterior ethmoid, and 2 involved both. The mucoceles were marsupialized via revision endoscopic ethmoidectomy in 12 patients, whereas 2 had both external and endoscopic approaches taken.
Conclusion: Ethmoid mucocele can form as a late complication of endoscopic ethmoidectomy. It is commonly associated with middle meatal adhesions.