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Intraosseous hemangiomas are rare, comprising only 0.5% to 1% of all osseous neoplasms. The most common locations are the vertebral column and the skull bones; nevertheless, the maxillary bone is quite a rare location and only a few cases have been described in the literature thus far. We describe a case of a 48-year-old woman who was referred to our hospital with a suspected maxillary tumor incidentally discovered on (18) F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) imaging performed during a general medical examination. Computed tomography (CT) demonstrated a 3 cm bony tumor with a honeycomb appearance occupying the left maxillary sinus. Complete surgical resection via the Caldwell-Luc procedure was performed for the purpose of diagnosis and treatment. Histological examination revealed that the tumor was an intraosseous cavernous hemangioma originating from the maxillary bone. Although preoperative angiography and embolization were not performed, intraoperative-blood loss was minimal. No recurrence has been seen in a follow-up period of 3 years.

Arachnoid cysts are commom intracranial lesions; however, their extension to the paranasal sinus is rare. Here we report a case of arachnoid cyst extending to the sphenoid sinus. Imaging examinations indicated an epidermoid cyst. We then performed endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery for partial resection of the cyst or formation of a drainage route. Opening the cyst wall resulted in a massive CSF leak, indicating an arachnoid cyst. Management of CSF leakage requires complete closure of the defect in the skull base using a fat graft and a pedicle mucosal flap elevated from the nasal septum. An arachnoid cyst should be included in the differential diagnosis of intracranial cystic lesions extending to the paranasal sinuses.