Long-term retention of ethmoid sinus foreign body manifested as chronic paranasal sinusitis

Sinusitis due to long-term retention of sinus foreign body is uncommon. We report a 39 year-old man who had suffered from bilateral ethmoid sinusitis for 20 years. A ballpoint pen cap was found incidentally during functional endoscopic sinus surgery. Sinus symptoms were relieved dramatically after foreign body removal. Compared with other sinus disorders, ethmoid sinus foreign body is an unusual condition. We review the literature associated with sinus foreign bodies and discuss their routes of penetration and complications.