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The sphenoid sinus is adjacent to the cavernous sinus, pituitary gland, optic nerve, and internal carotid artery, and sphenoid sinusitis can cause various inflammation of these surrounding structures. However, intracranial complications of sinusitis are quite rare. We experienced a case of sinusitis with a pituitary abscess. A 64-year-old man with uncontrolled diabetes complained of fatigue, and blood tests revealed possible adrenal insufficiency. Supplementary steroid treatment improved his symptom. The patient then experienced diplopia due to left abducens nerve paralysis, and subsequent enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the head revealed left sphenoid sinusitis, left cavernous sinus inflammation, an epidural abscess contiguous to the cavernous sinus, and an intra-sellar pituitary abscess. Antibiotic treatment with vancomycin (2 g/day), cefepime (6 g/day), and metronidazole (1.5 g/day) was started immediately, and left-side endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) was performed. Histological examination revealed fungal growth in the erosive mucosa, but it was present only on the surface of the mucosa, and we assessed the pathophysiology as a bacterial infection rather than an invasive fungal infection. Culture tests of the pus drained from the sphenoid sinus during ESS were negative for bacteria, fungi, and mycobacteria. ESS and antibiotic treatment for 6 weeks, as is used for treating osteomyelitis, improved the MRI findings and left eye movement. Despite the development of antibiotic treatments, the prognosis of patients with intracranial abscess remains poor. However, early diagnosis has been reported to reduce the mortality and residual neurologic disturbance rates, and early enhanced MRI should be considered.

Objective: To review a sequela of skull base reconstruction with a porous polyethylene implant. Methods: Case report. Results: A 61-year old patient with a past surgical history of transsphenoidal hypophysectomy presented with chronic post nasal drip. Endoscopy demonstrated crusting along the residual intersinus sphenoid septum. The patient was taken to the operating room to remove the residual septum, which was discovered to be a porous polyethylene implant. The implant was removed and the patient's symptoms resolved. Repeat endoscopy showed healthy mucosalization of the sphenoid sinus. Conclusions: While porous polyethylene has a relatively safe biocompatibility profile, infection, extrusion, or migration of the implant are potential complications after skull base reconstruction, and subsequent chronic sinusitis can develop. It is important for surgeons to recognize these potential complications when planning reconstruction and select appropriately.

Acute bacterial sinusitis may be complicated by orbital and intracranial involvement and by thrombophlebitis. Its spread across multiple anatomic compartments is facilitated by the interconnected venous anatomy of the head and neck and the virulence of the primary pathogen. We present a rare case of Streptococcus Intermedius (S. Intermedius) acute bacterial sinusitis complicated by extensive skull base involvement including cavernous sinuses and neck vein thrombophlebitis and thrombosis., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The Medpor porous polyethylene implant is reported to be safe and effective for sellar reconstruction after transsphenoidal surgery (TSS). However, we have observed several cases of delayed chronic sphenoid sinusitis related to the implant. The purpose of this study is to describe the presentation and management of implant-related sphenoid sinusitis after sellar reconstruction., Methods: This is a retrospective study of patients who underwent endonasal TSS with Medpor sellar reconstruction between December 2008 and January 2013 at a tertiary care institution. Patient demographics, initial surgical management, sinonasal symptoms, postoperative imaging, sinusitis management, and resulting outcomes were analyzed., Results: From 2008-2013, 139 patients underwent sellar reconstruction using Medpor. Five patients (3.6%) presented between 8 and 60 months after surgery with chronic sphenoid sinusitis that required surgical management. All 5 patients presented as outpatients for management of headaches and nasal drainage, 4 patients experienced chronic nasal congestion, and 3 patients noted recurrent sinusitis. At the time of revision surgery, all 5 patients were found to have mucosal inflammation and edema surrounding the implant, and 4 of the 5 had an exposed or partially extruded implant that was removed., Conclusions: Reconstruction of the sellar floor may be performed after TSS to prevent postoperative complications. Although porous polyethylene implants have previously been described as safe and effective for this purpose, surgeons should be aware of the risk of subsequent implant extrusion and chronic sphenoid sinusitis that can occur in a delayed manner., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)