Sphenoid sinus mucocele is a rare condition. In this study, radiation to the head and neck appeared to be a predisposing factor, and eye symptoms were the commonest presentation. Endoscopic sinus surgery is a safe and effective treatment modality.

Sinonasal inverted papillomas are well known for high recurrence rates after surgery and the risk of malignant change. Recurrent disease occurs because of inadequate excision as a result of poor exposure and visualization. For these reasons, aggressive surgery has been advocated-classically a lateral rhinotomy and en bloc medial maxillectomy. Endoscopic techniques have provided excellent visualization and a less invasive approach to these tumours. We describe 18 patients with inverted papillomas treated endoscopically at the Singapore General Hospital since 1993. The presentation, sites of involvement and diagnostic imaging are presented. All the patients had a minimum follow-up of 18 months with a mean of 32.8 months. One case of recurrence at the frontal recess is reported. Endoscopic management is appropriate for the diagnosis, follow-up and treatment of circumscribed primary and recurrent inverted papillomas.

Excision of the submandibular gland is a surgical procedure often undertaken. The procedure is the treatment of choice for patients with neoplasm of the submandibular gland and those with non-neoplastic submandibular disorders which are not controlled with conservative medical measures. Extirpation of the submandibular gland may also be undertaken for diagnostic purposes.This retrospective study of 93 consecutive patients who underwent excision of the submandibular gland in the Department of Otolaryngology, Singapore General Hospital over a five-year period was undertaken to study the indications of surgery, the pathology of the excised submandibular gland and the demographic profile of patients.Fifty-six (60.2 per cent) patients underwent submandibular gland excision for non-neoplastic salivary gland disease while 37 (39.8 per cent) had neoplastic submandibular gland disorders. The commonest pathology encountered was sialadenitis/sialolithiasis (53.76 per cent) followed by pleomorphic adenoma (33.33 per cent). Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) was a valuable pre-operative investigation with a sensitivity and specificity of 94.7 per cent and 100 per cent respectively for neoplastic diseases. The morbidity rate for this surgery was 4.3 per cent.

This paper presents a review of the various diseases of the sphenoid sinus and describes the approaches to the sinus with special emphasis on the transpterygoid approach to the lateral recess of the sphenoid sinus.

This series demonstrates that CSF leakage can be managed safely and effectively by using an endoscopic transpterygoid approach in patients in whom both external and endoscopic attempts have failed. The transpterygoid approach used in all of the cases in this series provides wide exposure around the skull base defect, which is crucial for successful repair.

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A 50-year-old Chinese man presented with rapidly progressive unilateral ophthalmoplegia and then an ipsilateral afferent pupil defect. CT and MRI revealed a mass centered in the anterior clinoid process causing bone destruction and showing high T1 and T2 signal intensity indicative of mucosal protein secretion. These imaging features suggested a mucocele, which may have resulted from sequestration of a clinoidal extension of the sphenoid sinus. The sphenoid sinus was opened via an image-guided endoscopic approach, and the lesion incised. There were no complications. The ophthalmoplegia and afferent pupil defect had completely resolved within 1 week of surgery. This is the eighth reported case of anterior clinoidal mucocele, a rare cause of ophthalmoplegia or optic neuropathy. Advances in endoscopic instrumentation, navigation systems, and intraoperative imaging have reduced the operative risk and made the endoscopic approach a feasible and safer alternative to open surgery for this condition.

Some aneurysms are too large to be treated with endovascular occlusion techniques; in such cases, ligation of the parent vessel is indicated. However, our patient continued to experience persistent, mild epistaxis despite internal carotid artery ligation, as a result of the reperfusion phenomenon.