Organized Hematoma of the Sphenoid Sinus With Acute Blindness: Insight Into Pathogenesis of Disease

Organized hematoma of the sphenoid sinus with epistaxis

Few reports have been made on organized hematoma (OH) originating in the sphenoid sinus. We report the case of a 24-year-old man who presented to the hospital with consistent epistaxis for 1 month. Preoperative computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) detected an expansive heterogeneous mass with minimal bone destruction and hypointense peripheral rim in T2-weighted images of the left sphenoid sinus as a solitary lesion. An OH was suspected first based on the history of repeated epistaxis and characteristic imaging findings, although quite rare. Preoperative vascular embolism was not performed because its effects on the ocular artery should be considered. With endoscopic sinus surgery under hypotensive anesthesia, the mass was carefully and successfully removed without bleeding and diagnosed as OH based on postoperative pathological examination. When solitary lesions are found in the sphenoid sinus with epistaxis, this disease should be differentiated. If it increases, complications, such as visual impairment, frequently occur, and control of intraoperative bleeding is sometimes difficult. Not only missing the characteristic imaging findings, especially MRI with contrast administration but also evaluating the anatomical relationship between OH and other important organs is important for a successful intervention of sphenoid sinus OH.

Successful Endoscopic Transsphenoidal Approach Treatment of Sphenoid Sinus Organized Hematoma Causing Visual Deficit: A Case Report

Background: Organized hematoma in the sphenoid sinus is rare, but serious complications, such as visual deficits, can occur. Three such case reports have been published previously in the literature; however, none have achieved complete recovery of the vision. Case presentation: A 69-year-old male patient was referred to the ear, nose, and throat department with an expansile soft tissue mass filling the right sphenoid sinus and blurry vision in his right eye. Complete mass removal was achieved by a wide opening of the sphenoid sinus via an endoscopic transsphenoidal approach, followed by cauterization of the feeding artery and coverage by a nasoseptal flap. The patient's vision was restored after the operation, and he declared no visual symptoms until the latest follow-up (one year after the surgery). Conclusions: Complete excision with an endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach can restore visual deterioration caused by a sphenoid sinus organized hematoma.

Case Report: A Neuro-Ophthalmological Assessment of Vision Loss in a Pediatric Case of McCune-Albright Syndrome

Patients diagnosed with McCune-Albright Syndrome (MAS) frequently manifest craniofacial fibrous dysplasia (FD). Craniofacial FD can impinge nerve fibers causing visual loss as well as craniofacial pain. Surgical decompression of affected nerves is performed, with variable efficacy, in an attempt to restore function or alleviate symptoms. Here, we present a case of a 12-year-old MAS patient with visual deficits, particularly in the left eye (confirmed by enlarged blind spots on Goldmann visual field testing), and craniofacial pain. Decompression surgery of the left optic nerve mildly improved vision, while persistent visual deficits were noted at a 3-month follow-up assessment. An in-depth, imaging-based evaluation of the visual system, including the retinal nerve fiber layer, optic nerves, and central nervous system (CNS) visual pathways, revealed multiple abnormalities throughout the visual processing stream. In the current FD/MAS patient, a loss of white matter fiber density within the left optic radiation and functional changes involving the left primary visual cortex were observed. Aberrant structural and functional abnormalities embedded within central visual pathways may play a role in facilitating deficits in vision in FD/MAS and contribute to the variable outcome following peripheral nerve decompression surgery.