A Real Headache: Intracranial Extension and Epidural Abscess As Complication of Chronic Mucocele

Mucoceles are benign lesions of salivary glands typically originating from the paranasal sinuses. Intracranial extension and superinfection of these lesions are rare but serious complications of chronic mucoceles. Here, we discuss a patient with a known mucocele, initially lost to follow-up, who pre...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inCurēus (Palo Alto, CA) Vol. 15; no. 12; p. e49875
Main Authors Naik, Divya, Aten, Kristopher, Lopez, Dylan, Patel, Jaimin
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States Cureus Inc 03.12.2023
Cureus
Subjects
Abscesses
Ataxia
Bones
Cocaine
Diplopia
Edema
Emergency medical care
Endoscopy
Epidural
Hypertension
Internal Medicine
Magnetic resonance imaging
Medical imaging
Neurosurgery
Otolaryngology
Pain
Patients
Sinuses
Sinusitis
Surgery
Trauma
Tumors
rhinorrhea
cocaine use
case report
mucocele
chronic sinusitis
epidural abscess
intracranial extension
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Summary:Mucoceles are benign lesions of salivary glands typically originating from the paranasal sinuses. Intracranial extension and superinfection of these lesions are rare but serious complications of chronic mucoceles. Here, we discuss a patient with a known mucocele, initially lost to follow-up, who presented three years later with headache, purulent rhinorrhea, and intracranial extension of his mucocele with development of an epidural abscess. This case highlights the potential complications of chronic, large mucoceles and emphasizes the importance of thorough evaluation in patients with facial abscesses in the setting of known sinus pathology. Any mucocele with signs of superinfection such as purulent rhinorrhea, abscess near the sinuses, or refractory symptoms should warrant cranial imaging. Mucoceles with evidence of intracranial extension require neurosurgical and/or otolaryngologic evaluation for evacuation and debridement to avoid neurologic injury or devastating infection.
ISSN:2168-8184
2168-8184
DOI:10.7759/cureus.49875