Proptosis: The ENT Surgeon's Perspective.

Proptosis is one of the commonest clinical manifestations of pathology involving orbit. Aim of this study is to evaluate causes of proptosis secondary to nasal and paranasal sinus pathology. Prospective study over 2 years. 44 cases of proptosis secondary to nasal and para nasal sinus pathologies studied. There were 63.6% males and 33.4% of females with peak age incidence between 41 and 50 years. Commonest cause of proptosis in our study is malignancy of nose and paranasal sinuses, of which squamous cell carcinoma is common. Frontoethmoid mucocele is the second common cause. Fungal sinusitis account for 15.9% only. To conclude malignancy lesions of nose and para nasal sinuses constitute important cause of proptosis in our study followed by mucocele. Prompt identification of proptosis, a clinical and radiological evaluation is required. The treatment modality has to be decided according to individual lesion.