Skip to main content Accessibility help

We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.

Close cookie message
×
Home
Hostname: page-component-ffbbcc459-7c245 Total loading time: 0.402 Render date: 2022-03-13T06:33:49.461Z Has data issue: true Feature Flags: { "shouldUseShareProductTool": true, "shouldUseHypothesis": true, "isUnsiloEnabled": true, "useRatesEcommerce": false, "useNewApi": true }
  • English
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology The Journal of Laryngology & Otology

Article contents

Posterior orbital cellulitis: case report and literature review

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 October 2013

K Allan ,
H Atkinson  and
F Agada
H Atkinson
Affiliation:
ENT, Head and Neck Surgery Department, York Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Scarborough Hospital, UK
F Agada
Affiliation:
ENT, Head and Neck Surgery Department, York Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Scarborough Hospital, UK
Get access Rights & Permissions[Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Introduction:

It is rare for isolated sphenoid sinusitis to cause orbital cellulitis. We present a rare case of posterior orbital cellulitis, so caused, together with a review of the relevant literature.

Case report:

A 29-year-old woman presented with a 6-week history of progressive, unilateral, retro-orbital and periorbital right eye pain. On examination, the only finding was reduced visual acuity in the right eye. A computed tomography scan demonstrated right frontal and sphenoid sinus opacification. Sphenoidotomy and frontal sinus trephination were subsequently performed, following failure to respond to intravenous antibiotics. After surgery, the patient's vision returned to normal.

Conclusion:

Isolated sphenoid sinusitis is rare but can cause significant visual disturbance and permanent loss of vision. Vague symptoms unsupported by clinical signs at presentation are a feature of posterior orbital cellulitis. The presented case highlights the problem, and the need for a high index of clinical suspicion even in the absence of firm clinical signs, in order to prevent permanent visual loss.

Keywords

Sphenoid SinusSinusitisOrbital CellulitisDiagnosis
Type
Clinical Records
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 127 , Issue 11 , November 2013 , pp. 1148 - 1151
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2013 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1Van Alyea, OE. Sphenoid sinus: anatomic study, with consideration of the clinical significance of the structural characteristics of the sphenoid sinus. Arch Otolaryngol 1941;34:225–53CrossRefGoogle Scholar
2Holt, GR, Standefer, JA, Brown, WE Jr, Gates, GA. Infectious diseases of the sphenoid sinus. Laryngoscope 1984;94:330–5CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
3Lew, D, Southwick, FS, Montgomery, WW, Weber, AL, Baker, AS. Sphenoid sinusitis. A review of 30 cases. N Engl J Med 1983;309:1149–54CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4Pearlman, SJ, Lawson, W, Biller, HF, Friedman, WH, Potter, GD. Isolated sphenoid sinus disease. Laryngoscope 1989;99:716–20CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
5Chandler, JR, Langenbrunner, DJ, Stevens, ER. The pathogenesis of orbital complications in acute sinusitis. Laryngoscope 1970;80:1414–28CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
6Kjoer, I. A case of orbital apex syndrome in collateral pansinusitis. Acta Ophthalmologica 1945;23:357–66CrossRefGoogle Scholar
7Slavin, ML, Glaser, JS. Acute severe irreversible visual loss with sphenoethmoiditis – ‘posterior orbital cellulitis’. Arch Ophthalmol 1987;105:345–8CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8Guo, YF, Yuan, YM, Liu, ZP, Xu, BC, Guan, J. Clinical analysis of sphenoid disease manifesting as orbital apex syndrome [in Chinese]. Zhonghua Er Bi Yan Hou Tou Jing Wai Ke Za Zhi 2005;40:688–90Google Scholar
9Proetz, AW. The sphenoid sinus. Br Med J 1948;2:243–5CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
10Brook, I. Bacteriology of acute and chronic sphenoid sinusitis. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 2002;111:1002–4CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4
Cited by

Send article to Kindle

To send this article to your Kindle, first ensure no-reply@cambridge.org is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about sending to your Kindle. Find out more about sending to your Kindle.

Note you can select to send to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be sent to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Posterior orbital cellulitis: case report and literature review
Available formats
×

Send article to Dropbox

To send this article to your Dropbox account, please select one or more formats and confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your <service> account. Find out more about sending content to Dropbox.

Posterior orbital cellulitis: case report and literature review
Available formats
×

Send article to Google Drive

To send this article to your Google Drive account, please select one or more formats and confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your <service> account. Find out more about sending content to Google Drive.

Posterior orbital cellulitis: case report and literature review
Available formats
×
×

Reply to: Submit a response

Please enter your response.

Your details

Please enter a valid email address.

Conflicting interests

Do you have any conflicting interests? *