Abstract
Isolated sphenoid sinusitis is relatively uncommon and may present with a variety of symptoms. Therefore, it is often misdiagnosed, or detected only when complications develop. As skull base surgery becomes more prevalent, an understanding of sphenoid disease and its manifestations becomes increasingly important. From September 1989 through January 1994, 10 patients were seen with isolated sphenoid sinus disease. All patients presented with atypical headaches. Six had bacterial infections, three had noninvasive fungal infections, and one patient had a sphenoid mucocele. No patient had any recognized risk factors predisposing to such infection. All patients required surgical drainage, which was done through an endoscopic transnasal approach in five, an endoscopic transethmoid approach in three, and a transseptal approach in two, with no surgical complications. The advantages and disadvantages of these approaches compared to more traditional surgical approaches to the sphenoid sinus are discussed.
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