Giant frontal lipoma mimicking frontal mucocele

ABSTRACT Lipoma is a usually painless benign adipose tumor. Nevertheless, it can cause compression of adjacent structures, depending on its location. Mucoceles are benign cystic lesions in the frontal-ethmoidal region, caused by chronic obstruction of the paranasal sinus and consequent inflammatory processes. The increase of mucocele diameter caused by inflammation often results in bony degradation and reabsorption, increasing pressure on adjacent structures, including the orbit and the base of the skull, leading to possibly serious consequences. Here we report a case of lipoma mimicking a frontal mucocele, managed surgically at the Ophthalmological Hospital of Anapolis.