PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Acute and chronic sinusitis can give rise to a wide array of 
intracranial and orbital complications. These complications include brain 
abscess, subdural empyema, epidural abscess, meningitis, venous sinus 
thrombosis, frontal bone osteomyelitis, and orbital cellulitis and abscess. 
Despite numerous medical advances, these complications carry a risk of mortality 
and significant morbidity.
RECENT FINDINGS: Recent studies have shown improvement in both the mortality and 
the morbidity associated with the neurologic complications of acute and chronic 
sinusitis. However, there are still a large portion of patients with long-term 
sequelae, and the literature reports a morbidity rate of approximately 30%. The 
most common post-treatment morbidities include permanent changes in vision, 
seizures, and hemiparesis. Although the overall incidence of neurologic 
complications from a sinogenic source are rare, the potential long-term 
complications can be devastating making prompt diagnosis and treatment vital to 
improving outcomes.