비인두암 치료 후 재발로 오인된 사골동-접형동 기질화 혈종 1예

Organized hematoma mimicking malignant tumor: A case of organized hematoma in ethmoid and sphenoid sinus

Organized hematoma is a rare non-neoplastic lesion causing bone destruction and obstruction. The exact mechanism remains unclear; it is known that tumors develop well when bleeding is poorly ventilated or drained. Compared to the maxillary sinus, the sphenoid sinus or ethmoid sinus have insufficient cavity to develop the organized hematoma. We report a case of 45-year-old male with organized hematoma in sphenoid and ethmoid sinus which was mimicking a malignant tumor. The patient had radiation therapy due to nasopharyngeal cancer. The computed tomography scan revealed an expansile neoplasm of ethmoid and sphenoid sinus, so we speculated it as recurrence of tumor. However, endoscopic deep biopsy proved that it was organized hematoma. Even if the tumor occurs in a relatively rare location, it is necessary to distinguish between malignant and benign tumor in consideration of the patient’s history and clinical features.