Endoscopic Findings of Fungal Ball in the Mucocele After Endonasal Transsphenoidal Surgery

Abstract

A 51-year-old woman with headache was referred to our hospital. She had a history of endonasal pituitary surgery 22 years prior and hypertension 10 years prior. The endonasal transsphenoidal pituitary approach was performed via microscopic transseptal approach. Nasal endoscopy revealed whitish cystic wall protruded from the right sphenoid sinus. Functional endoscopic sinus surgery was performed under general anesthesia. After incision of the right sphenoid ostium, yellowish mucoid discharge in the right sphenoid sinus was pushed out from the sphenoid sinus. Histopathology confirmed fungal ball in the sphenoid sinus, which is consistent with aspergillosis sinus. The presence of fungal ball and mucocele are rarely reported, but mucocele and fungal ball found after pituitary surgery are the first and therefore unique in this case.

Keywords: aspergillosis; fungal ball; mucocele; paranasal sinuses; pituitary adenoma.