Fungal sinusitis: Sinuses and beyond

Abstract

Fungal sinusitis poses a great diagnostic and treatment challenge to the otorhinolaryngologist. The increasing incidence of the disease, wide spectrum of clinical features, possibility of recurrence, invasion to vital structures such as orbit and brain, and treatment challenges make it a major health burden today. Often attributed to an immunoglobulin E-specific reaction or cell-mediated immune response to the fungal filaments, fungal sinusitis can be diagnosed by fungal stain and culture and histopathology (gold standard). Radiological studies help in assessing the disease extent and in planning management. We present our series of various forms of fungal sinusitis and the difficulties we faced in the management and the outcome. Each form of fungal sinusitis has distinctly different medical and surgical treatment which needs to be individualized, most often requiring radical surgical debridement along with adjunct long-term antifungals (polyene and triazole) playing an equally important role.