Sudden blindness in a child: presenting symptom of a sphenoid sinus mucocele.

Casteels, I; De Loof, E; Brock, P; Jorissen, M; Dralands, L; Missotten, L; Wilms, G · Br J Ophthalmol · 1992

case_report · Level V

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Abstract

A 10-year-old girl with no nasal or respiratory symptoms developed a headache lasting a few hours. The next day she became totally blind in the right eye and over 5 days vision in the left eye deteriorated to bare light perception. The diagnosis of a sphenoid sinus mucocele was made radiologically and drainage via an endonasal sphenoidectomy produced 12 ml of brownish fluid. Endoscopic biopsy of the wall confirmed the diagnosis of a mucocele. Steroid treatment was given postoperatively, but vision recovered to 6/12 in the left eye only. The importance of urgent clinical diagnosis and treatment is stressed.

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