Paediatric paranasal sinus mucoceles.

Mucoceles of the paranasal sinuses are extremely rare in children and adolescents and most cases described in the literature are associated with cystic fibrosis. The condition is potentially dangerous but frequently diagnosed late or inaccurately due to its non-specific symptoms or to an absence of inflammation parameters or other clinical signs. We present 3 children with mucoceles (sphenoid sinus n = 2, ethmoid sinus n = 1) in whom cystic fibrosis was discounted and who were managed in our medical centre during the last 3 years. No aetiological factor was identified in the 2 cases of sphenoid mucocele. The main symptom in these two patients was therapy-resistant cephalgia which shifted location and varied in intensity. One child had had recurrent sinus infection which was a possible aetiological factor of the ethmoidal mucocele. All patients successfully underwent endoscopic sinus surgery. During a 2-year follow-up, all patients have remained free of symptoms and no mucocele recurrence has been observed so far. The rareness of paranasal sinus mucoceles in children, in particular its sphenoid occurrence, coupled with its relatively non-specific symptomatology prompted the authors to outline and discuss the aetiological factors, clinical findings, and therapy and to review the literature.