Complete recovery of acute monocular visual loss following endoscopic resection of anterior clinoid mucocele: case report and review of the literature

Abstract

Mucoceles are chronic non-neoplastic cystic lesions lined by mucus-secreting respiratory epithelium in the paranasal sinuses. Mucocele of the anterior clinoid process is a particularly rare entity most often presenting with rapidly progressive monocular blindness. The authors describe the case of a 32 year-old man who presented with acute painless visual loss in the left eye. Workup revealed an expansile lesion of the left anterior clinoid process with associated optic nerve compression. The patient underwent emergent endoscopic-assisted transnasal decompression of the optic nerve with full recovery of visual function. Early diagnosis and prompt surgical intervention optimizes the chances of functional regain of visual acuity.