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Introduction: Hyponatremia is one of the most common electrolyte abnormalities in clinical practice. Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) accounts for the majority of hyponatremia cases. In some cases, it may be challenging to find an underlying etiology. Case Presentation: We present a 76-year-old male patient with complaints of altered consciousness, disorientation, and relapsing hyponatremia. The final evaluation of hyponatremia showed a diagnosis of SIADH. As the patient’s hyponatremia was unresponsive to fluid restriction, tolvaptan was started at a 7.5 mg/day dose. Following detailed investigations to find an etiology of SIADH, sphenoidal sinusitis was detected, and sinus biopsy culture yielded Aspergillus flavus/oryzae. Voriconazole (IV 6 mg/kg loading followed by 4 mg/kg) commenced, and tolvaptan was discontinued during the follow-up. Conclusion: Fungal infections should be kept in mind after excluding other causes of central nervous system-related hyponatremia in immunocompetent individuals without alarming symptoms suggestive of malignancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Penicillium brasilianum is an environmental filamentous fungus with useful applications in biotechnology. However, human infections caused by P. brasilianum are rare and not well understood. We present the case of a woman in her sixties with poorly controlled diabetes mellitus who was diagnosed with invasive fungal rhinosinusitis (IFRS) and orbital apex syndrome. She underwent endoscopic sinus surgery and received treatment with liposomal amphotericin B. Notably, β-tubulin gene sequencing identified the filamentous fungus as P. brasilianum, and long-term itraconazole administration suppressed IFRS flares. Our findings underscore the need for increased awareness and understanding of rare fungal pathogens in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invasive fungal sinusitis is a life-threatening form of fungal rhinosinusitis. Due to the aggressive clinical presentation and radiological appearance, there is diagnostic difficulty in differentiating invasive fungal sinusitis from a malignant process. This is even more challenging in oncological patients who have undergone previous head and neck radiotherapy, due to possibility of a recurrence of primary malignancy and radiation-induced neoplasms. We report a rare case of invasive fungal sinusitis mimicking a malignancy in a post-radiotherapy patient. Our patient was a 68-year-old male, 25-years post-radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma. He presented with a 3-month history of purulent sputum and right facial paraesthesia. Magnetic resonance imaging showed an irregular destructive enhancing mass of the greater wing of right sphenoid and pterygoid bone with extensive extension into nearby structures. In view of extensive local and bony invasion, and a history of radiotherapy, initial suspicions were that of primary malignancy, specifically radiation-induced sarcoma, and recurrence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. He underwent transpterygoid biopsy of the lesion, and histopathology demonstrated Aspergillus species, with no malignancy identified. Our report highlights the diagnostic difficulties in the post-radiotherapy cancer patient presenting with symptoms suggestive of aggressive sino-nasal disease. Invasive fungal sinusitis closely mimics the clinical and radiological findings of several neoplastic processes. We discuss the clinical and radiological characteristics of pathologies that may mimic invasive fungal sinusitis. Histological examination remains the gold standard for diagnosis, and early fungal staining is crucial. Furthermore, one should not presume the initial histopathological diagnosis to be confirmatory of isolated fungal disease. Repeat radiological investigations for disease resolution and histopathologic re-evaluation if required should be performed, keeping in mind possibility of coexisting malignancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To study the etiological and anatomical factors in pathophysiology of invasive fungal rhinosinusitis affecting the skull base. Design Retrospective clinical study over 5 years. Setting Single-center tertiary referral hospital. Materials and Methods All cases of invasive fungal rhinosinusitis with clinicoradiological and/or operative evidence of anterior and central skull base, orbit, and orbital apex involvement with or without intracranial disease were included in the study. Patients with a sinonasal-palatal disease without the involvement of the skull base or orbit were excluded from the study. In addition, we assessed the risk factors such as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection, diabetes mellitus (DM), and other immunocompromised conditions. Results There were 79 patients, of which 65.8% had skull base rhino-oribitocerebral mucormycosis (ROCM), and 34.2% had Aspergillus infection. The mean duration from onset of the symptom to presentation of ROCM was 36.75 ± 20.97 days, while for the Aspergillus group was 21 weeks. The majority of patients (66%) with ROCM presented after 30 days of symptom onset. Among ROCM patients, 88.7% had a history of COVID-19 infection, and 96% had DM. In 40.8% of patients with Aspergillus infection, the tissue diagnosis was unavailable, and galactomannan assay and clinicoradiological assessment were used for diagnosis. The most common area of the skull base involved was the pterygopalatine fossa (88.5%), followed by the infratemporal fossa (73.1%). The most common neurovascular structure (75%) involved was the pterygopalatine ganglion and the infraorbital nerve. Conclusion With the increasing incidence of invasive fungal infections worldwide, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic, it is crucial to understand the evolving nature of this disease. ROCM, documented in the literature to cause fulminant disease, became a chronic illness, possibly due to the improvement of the patient's immunity during the disease course. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Hyponatremia is one of the most common electrolyte abnormalities in clinical practice. Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) accounts for the majority of hyponatremia cases. In some cases, it may be challenging to find an underlying etiology. Case Presentation: We present a 76-year-old male patient with complaints of altered consciousness, disorientation, and relapsing hyponatremia. The final evaluation of hyponatremia showed a diagnosis of SIADH. As the patient’s hyponatremia was unresponsive to fluid restriction, tolvaptan was started at a 7.5 mg/day dose. Following detailed investigations to find an etiology of SIADH, sphenoidal sinusitis was detected, and sinus biopsy culture yielded Aspergillus flavus/oryzae. Voriconazole (IV 6 mg/kg loading followed by 4 mg/kg) commenced, and tolvaptan was discontinued during the follow-up. Conclusion: Fungal infections should be kept in mind after excluding other causes of central nervous system-related hyponatremia in immunocompetent individuals without alarming symptoms suggestive of malignancy.

Aspergillus fumigatus is commonly found in the airway and is associated with airway inflammatory diseases. Zinc oxide (ZO) is known to be an essential microelement that facilitates fungal survival, growth, and proliferation. This study aimed to investigate the impact of ZO on A. fumigatus-induced fungal sinusitis in rabbits. Twenty-eight New Zealand white rabbits were divided into four groups for this study. Group 1 (6 sides) was treated with intramaxillary phosphate buffer saline (PBS) served as the negative control, Group 2 (6 sides) received intramaxillary PBS and ZO, Group 3 (8 sides) was treated with intramaxillary A. fumigatus alone, and Group 4 (8 sides) treated with intramaxillary A. fumigatus with ZO. After 4 and 12 weeks, sinus mucosal cytokine and transcription factor expressions were determined. A histological analysis was performed to determine inflammatory cell infiltration, number of secretory cells, and mucosal thickness. Fungal biofilm formation was determined using confocal laser microscopy. The intramaxillary instillation of A. fumigatus conidia led to an increase in protein and mRNA expression of interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-8 in the maxillary sinus mucosa. They were associated with mitogen-activated protein kinase and activator protein-1. Furthermore, intramaxillary instillation of fungal conidia resulted in significant enhancement of inflammatory cell infiltration, epithelial thickening, and fungal biofilm formation. However, intramaxillary ZO did not have a significant impact on A. fumigatus-induced cytokine protein and mRNA expression, and inflammatory cell infiltration and epithelial thickness in sinonasal mucosa. While intramaxillary instillation of A. fumigatus increased mucosal inflammation, cytokine production, and biofilm formation, the intramaxillary application of ZO did not have a significant influence on inflammation in the maxillary sinus mucosa.

Iron is an important micronutrient involved in cell biology through vital reactions. We examined the correlations between iron metabolism parameters and the course of invasive fungal sinusitis. Patients with invasive fungal sinusitis were enrolled. Serum iron and ferritin levels, total iron-binding capacity, and transferrin saturation were measured at the initiation of treatment. Patients were followed for 6 months, and the clinical course was categorised as improvement or worsening/death. A total of 35 patients were enrolled. The average ferritin levels in mucormycosis patients was 944.9 ng/ml, versus 110.7 ng/ml for aspergillosis patients. Iron levels were significantly lower in mucormycosis than in aspergillosis (29.14 µg/dl vs. 68.55 µg/dl). Total iron-binding capacity was significantly different between the two groups (16.76 µg/dl vs. 330.36 µg/dl). After 6 months, improvement, worsening, and death were noted for 18, 8, and 9 patients, respectively. Higher iron levels and lower ferritin levels were linked with improvement. Total iron-binding capacity was significantly higher in improved patients (2314 vs. 151). Iron metabolism parameters play significant roles in the preemptive judgment of the course of fungal sinusitis. Based on these findings, studies on drugs affecting iron metabolism should be conducted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invasive fungal infections are uncommon in an immunocompetent host and pose a real diagnostic dilemma. As they have a propensity for locoregional destruction, clinic-radiological findings can mislead to a faulty diagnosis of a malignancy. Here we present a case of Primary Aspergillus dacryocystitis in an immunocompetent individual initially thought to be an orbital malignancy until the histopathological examination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Early surgical debridement is vital for favorable outcomes in acute invasive fungal sinusitis (AIFS). Our study aimed to propose guidelines with tailored, conservative surgical procedures based on areas of involvement and evaluate their usefulness in avoiding repeated debridement. Methods: This retrospective observational study was conducted on 150 AIFS patients operated on with the proposed surgical guidelines from May to June 2021 at a tertiary care hospital. Data including demography, comorbidities, surgical procedures, revision surgery, and outcome were collected and analyzed. Results: All 150 patients underwent bilateral endoscopic sinonasal debridement. Among them, 108 patients (72%) had current or recent coronavirus disease (COVID) infection. Ninety-two patients (61.3%) required additional procedures based on disease extent. Twenty patients (15.4%) required revision debridement because of progressive or recurrent disease. Mean age of this group was 46.15 (standard deviation ±11.2) years with a strong male predominance (9:1). Seventeen had diabetes mellitus, 12 suffered from active COVID-19 infection and six had received corticosteroids. None of the 31 patients who had recovered from COVID-19 or had no comorbidities required revision surgery. Age, gender, and comorbidities were not significant predictors for revision surgery. Fourteen patients (70%) underwent second surgery within one month of primary surgery. Predominant disease locations were alveolus and palate (55% each), and in 80% the site was uninvolved at primary surgery. The most common revision procedure was inferior partial maxillectomy (60%). At follow-up, all were asymptomatic with no evidence of disease. Conclusion: The proposed surgical guidelines for AIFS allow for adequate surgical debridement with preservation of optimum functional status. Low revision surgery rates and good outcomes with minimal morbidity validate its usefulness.

Objective Fungal rhinosinusitis is on the rise worldwide and it is endemic especially in North India. The main purpose of this study was to determine the antifungal resistance profile of fungal isolates from the cases of fungal rhinosinusitis.

Invasive aspergillosis is a rare but severe fungal infection primarily affecting immunocompromised individuals. The Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has introduced new complexities in managing aspergillosis due to the widespread use of corticosteroids for treating COVID-19-related respiratory distress, which can increase susceptibility to fungal infections. Here, we present a challenging case of progressive cerebral aspergillosis complicated by cavernous sinus thrombosis (CST) in a 67-year-old male with a history of COVID-19. The patient, initially misdiagnosed with temporal arteritis, received pulse corticosteroid therapy twice before presenting with persistent left-sided headaches and vision loss. Cranial imaging revealed findings consistent with fungal sinusitis, Tolosa–Hunt syndrome, and orbital pseudotumor, which progressed despite initial antifungal therapy. Subsequent magnetic resonance imaging indicated an invasive mass extending into the left cavernous sinus and other intracranial structures, raising suspicion of aspergillosis. A transsphenoidal biopsy confirmed Aspergillus infection, leading to voriconazole therapy. Despite aggressive treatment, follow-up imaging revealed significant progression, with extension to the right frontal region and left cavernous sinus. The patient then developed visual impairment in the right eye and was diagnosed with CST secondary to fungal sinusitis. Management included a combination of systemic antifungals and antibiotics; however, the patient declined surgical intervention. This case underscores the diagnostic challenges and rapid progression associated with cerebral aspergillosis in post-COVID-19 patients treated with corticosteroids. This report highlights the need for heightened clinical suspicion and prompt, targeted interventions in similar cases to improve patient outcomes. Further research is required to understand the optimal management of invasive fungal infections.

Anatomical variations in the maxillary sinus pneumatisation are limited unlike the ethmoids. We present rare variations of the maxillary sinus along its floor other than septations and includes wide pneumatisation of alveolar and palatal recess with cell formation. An intra-maxillary cell that opens into the maxillary infundibulum well within the sinus is described here and our senior author has coined the new term-alveolar recess cell. Its involvement in the sinus pathologies and additional surgical approaches for the disease clearance is discussed here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orbital abscesses are primarily seen in children as complication of ethmoid bacterial sinusitis. We report a case of invasive aspergillosis causing orbital abscess in an immunocompetent child which resolved with surgery followed by antifungal therapy. This case highlights need for histopathological, and microbiological examination, including fungal culture in such cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Gentleman in his 40s presented to us with left-sided hemifacial pain and nasal discharge for the last three days. He has been on immunosuppressive therapy for Wegener's Granulomatosis for over five years. Crusting was seen in the Left middle meatus upon clinical examination. Based on the post-covid status, steroid therapy, KOH mount, and radiologic imaging, a provisional diagnosis of Sinonasal mucormycosis was considered. He was posted for emergency debridement followed by Liposomal Amphotericin B and steroid therapy. Surgical histopathological specimens were suggestive of Mucormycosis. Limited sinonasal disease with no intracranial, orbital, or palatal involvement was seen in a background of Wegener's Granulomatosis, Covid, and immunosuppressive therapy. Steroids are condemned as a predisposing factor to mucormycosis. Still, the combination of Liposomal Amphotericin B and steroids was used, opening new avenues for managing mucormycosis in patients with vasculitis. The patient is well nine months post-surgery with no signs of disease relapse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Invasive fungal rhinosinusitis (IFRS) is a rapidly progressive life-threatening condition. The invasive nature of the fungus causing invasive fungal rhinosinusitis (IFRS) is characterized by rapid disease extension into blood vessels, resulting in vasculitis with thrombosis, haemorrhage, tissue infarction, and central nervous system involvement. Fungal rhinosinusitis (FRS) can be divided depending on fungal invasion of the mucosal layer into two categories based on histopathological findings: invasive and non-invasive. Materials and Methods: In the Retrospective arm, records of all patients already treated for invasive fungal sinusitis at our hospital will be traced from the medical records section and from the department records in which the details of these patients are entered, the observations will be used for obtaining data. No active intervention or invasive procedure will be performed for the study. Details of findings of post-operative diagnostic nasal endoscopies done as indicated post operatively will also be collected from the ENT Register. As it will be difficult to contact these patients, we request for waiver of informed consent. Patient’s personal information will be confidential and his/her identity will not be revealed in any way. These patient’s data will be checked only till discharge. Results: This is retrospective study consisting of 30 patients of either sex in which we study various clinical presentations of invasive fungal sinusitis and outcomes of medical and surgical management of invasive fungal sinusitis. In our study of the 30 patients the youngest patient was 28 years old and the oldest was 72 years. The maximum number of patients i.e. 20 were between 51 to 60 years, 6 patients in the age group of 41-50 years. The mean age of patients was 53 years. In our study, diabetes mellitus was the most commonly found comorbidity being present in 23 patients (73%). Our study also showed 6 patients were in state of chronic renal failure with raised blood urea level and creatine level. 2 patients were leukaemia patients. 2 were immunocompromised patients secondary to HIV. Conclusion: Invasive fungal rhinosinusitis is a life-threatening disease largely affecting immunocompromised patients and has a fatal outcome if not managed timely and intensively. An early diagnosis favours a better prognosis, disease clearance with less destructive and morbid debridement salvages vision of the patient and ultimately leads to a better quality of life and a shorter duration of hospital stay. The emphasis must be laid on the management being multidisciplinary and not just surgical alone as the patients present with multiple comorbities and complications due to the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute invasive fungal sinusitis (AIFS) is a fungal infection of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses with associated invasion of adjacent vessels and soft/hard tissues. It usually occurs in immunocompromised patients and may follow a rapid course of less than four weeks with high mortality rate. We report a 39-year-old male with relapse of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) who was under evaluation for neutropenic fever. On his sinus CT, there was loss of calcification of his nasal septum when compared to a prior head CT, a sign indicative of an aggressive infectious process. He was diagnosed with AIFS and underwent emergent surgical debridement and systemic antifungal therapy, leading to a positive outcome. The sign described on CT ("Vanishing Nasal Septum" sign) may provide an additional, reliable tool to prospectively identify locally aggressive cases of invasive fungal infections of the nasal cavity at an earlier stage and improve patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Early surgical debridement is vital for favorable outcomes in acute invasive fungal sinusitis (AIFS). Our study aimed to propose guidelines with tailored, conservative surgical procedures based on areas of involvement and evaluate their usefulness in avoiding repeated debridement. Methods: This retrospective observational study was conducted on 150 AIFS patients operated on with the proposed surgical guidelines from May to June 2021 at a tertiary care hospital. Data including demography, comorbidities, surgical procedures, revision surgery, and outcome were collected and analyzed. Results: All 150 patients underwent bilateral endoscopic sinonasal debridement. Among them, 108 patients (72%) had current or recent coronavirus disease (COVID) infection. Ninetytwo patients (61.3%) required additional procedures based on disease extent. Twenty patients (15.4%) required revision debridement because of progressive or recurrent disease. Mean age of this group was 46.15 (standard deviation ±11.2) years with a strong male predominance (9:1). Seventeen had diabetes mellitus, 12 suffered from active COVID-19 infection and six had received corticosteroids. None of the 31 patients who had recovered from COVID-19 or had no comorbidities required revision surgery. Age, gender, and comorbidities were not significant predictors for revision surgery. Fourteen patients (70%) underwent second surgery within one month of primary surgery. Predominant disease locations were alveolus and palate (55% each), and in 80% the site was uninvolved at primary surgery. The most common revision procedure was inferior partial maxillectomy (60%). At follow-up, all were asymptomatic with no evidence of disease. Conclusion: The proposed surgical guidelines for AIFS allow for adequate surgical debridement with preservation of optimum functional status. Low revision surgery rates and good outcomes with minimal morbidity validate its usefulness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To detect the presence of Mucorales in the sinuses of healthy individuals and non-invasive fungal sinusitis patients. Materials and methods: Post FESS specimens with appearance suggestive of fungal ball or allergic mucin from 30 immunocompetent patients was sent for KOH smear, HPE, fungal culture and PCR. Results: Fungal culture was positive for Aspergillus flavus in one specimen. PCR demonstrated Aspergillus (21), Candida (14), and Rhizopus in one case. HPE detected mainly Aspergillus in 13 specimens. No fungal presence in four cases. Discussion: There was no significant undetected Mucor colonisation. PCR proved to be the most sensitive test in reliably detecting the organisms. No significant variation in the pattern of fungi were detected between COVID-19 infected and non-infected, but for the slightly higher detection of candida in the COVID-19 infected group. Conclusion: There was no significant presence of Mucorales in non-invasive fungal sinusitis patients in our study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Fungal rhinosinusitis is on the rise worldwide and it is endemic especially in North India. The main purpose of this study was to determine the antifungal resistance profile of fungal isolates from the cases of fungal rhinosinusitis. Methods Antifungal susceptibility testing of isolated fungi to fluconazole, amphotericin B, itraconazole, and voriconazole was determined by standard CLSI broth microdilution method. Results Sixty-eight fungal isolates of Aspergillus spp. (n = 49), Rhizopus spp. (n = 9), Candida spp. (n = 4), Penicillium spp. (n = 2), Mucor spp. (n = 2), Bipolaris spp. (n = 1), and Alternaria spp. (n = 1) were obtained from 60 different clinical samples as exudate from nasal mucosa (n = 28), allergic mucin (n = 8), nasal lavage (n = 2), tissue biopsy from nasal polyps (n = 14), and intraoperative nasal mucosa (n = 8). Of the 68 isolates, 75% were resistant to fluconazole, 13.23% were resistant to itraconazole, 2.94% to amphotericin B, and none were resistant to voriconazole. Aspergillus flavus (5%) was the only fungi found resistant to amphotericin B, while against itraconazole, A. flavus (7.5%) and A. niger (100%) were found resistant. All the isolates of A. flavus , A. fumigatus , A. niger , and Penicillium spp. were resistant to fluconazole. Conclusion Although amphotericin B stills remains to be the most effective drug, more prospective studies are needed for the requirement of knowledge of the sensitivity pattern for optimal treatment and reduction in morbidity in the long run. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Sinonasal mucormycosis is a quickly progressing and lethal fungal disease which showed an increased incidence in COVID-19 patients in the Indian population during the second wave of the pandemic. The objective of this study was to study the various sinus areas affected and the imaging findings of the disease. Methods The imaging records of patients with sinonasal mucormycosis during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic were reviewed and analysed for whom computed tomography (CT) and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images had been performed. Results Of the 65 patients, 6.1% had single sinus involvement, and 93.9% had multiple sinus involvement, and out of latter, 91.8% had bilateral sinuses affected by the disease process. A total of 49.2% patients with sinus involvement had erosions of the sinus walls. A total of 35.4% patients had only sinonasal mucormycosis, 38.5% patients had rhino-orbital mucormycosis, 4.6% patients had rhino-cerebral mucormycosis and 16.9% patients had rhino-orbitocerebral mucormycosis. The pterygopalatine fossa was affected in 26.2% patients. A total of 9.2% patients had cavernous sinus thrombosis. A total of 12% of the cases had infarction in the cerebral hemispheres. Conclusion In a setting of sinonasal mucormycosis, especially in the immuno-compromised and with those infected with COVID-19, cross-sectional imaging can assess the presence and extent of the disease and helps plan its medical and surgical management.

Rhino- orbital-cerebral mucormycosis is a rapidly progressive life-threatening fungal infection which primarily affects the nose, paranasal sinuses and orbit. It is an opportunistic fungal infection caused by fungi of order Mucorales. They are a group of ubiquitous fungi which grow on decaying vegetation and a wide variety of organic compounds, and they pose a huge threat to life by direct invasion of the vital structures in the body. Early identification and treatment of this disease is therefore of paramount importance for a better outcome. We report a case of a 65-year-old man with a background history of poorly controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension and chronic kidney disease, who presented with a diffuse headache of 5 days along with left sided facial oedema, redness of left eye and visual disturbance. Imaging studies revealed sinusitis involving multiple sinuses and the nasal mucosal biopsy showed fungal hyphae. Considering the clinical presentation and the overall findings from the investigations a diagnosis of rhino-cerebral mucormycosis was made. Medical management was done with administration of intravenous Amphotericin B and IV itraconazole along with other supportive medication. Patient had a successful recovery after a lengthy hospital stay which included surgical debridement of affected tissues and the medical treatment even with challenges faced due to unavailability of drugs due to economic constraints on health.

Although vasculitis due to infection with fungi, including Aspergillus , causes aneurysm formation, reports of internal carotid artery aneurysm formation resulting from fungal sinusitis are few. We report on a patient who experienced massive epistaxis from rupture of an internal carotid artery pseudoaneurysm, caused by fungal sinusitis. We treated the aneurysm with endovascular coil embolization, followed by endoscopic sinus surgery to remove the fungal mass. Intraoperative findings included a torn internal carotid artery and exposure of the coil to the sinus. Performing endoscopic sinus surgery before the embolization procedure would have increased the risks of massive intraoperative bleeding and mortality. Even after achieving hemostasis, serious sequelae, such as cerebral infarction, might occur. In this type of case, otorhinolaryngologists and neurosurgeons should collaborate, and an aneurysm should be treated before endoscopic sinus surgery. Although the treatment strategy for fungal internal carotid artery aneurysms is controversial, this case suggested the use of the embolization procedure followed by endoscopic debridement and antifungal therapy to treat a pseudoaneurysm of the internal carotid artery caused by fungal sinusitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Incidence of fungal rhinosinusitis has increased in recent few years. We investigated the differences in microbiological findings between patients with fungal and non-fungal rhinosinusitis by growing microbiological cultures from samples obtained from sinus surgery. Methods: Using the Chang Gung Research Database, we enrolled all chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) patients who had ever undergone sinus surgery from 2001 to 2019 and had microbiological culture during sinus surgery. Enrolled patients were divided into fungal and non-fungal groups, based on fungal culture and surgical pathology. Results: A total of 898 patients were diagnosed with fungal rhinosinusitis and 2884 with non-fungal rhinosinusitis. The fungal group had a higher age distribution (56.9 ± 13.1 vs. 47.0 ± 14.9), a larger proportion of females (62.4% vs. 37.0%), more unilateral lesions (80.4% vs. 41.6%), a lower incidence of the need for revision surgery (3.6% vs. 6.0%, p = 0.004), and a higher proportion of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the culture (14.3% vs. 4.6%, p < 0.001). Conclusions: This large-scale study showed that Pseudomonas aeruginosa are more commonly found in patients with fungal rhinosinusitis and in patients who needed revision surgery, suggesting that efforts aimed at eliminating Pseudomonas are needed in order to improve the disease outcomes of patients with fungal rhinosinusitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is widely prevalent globally. Fungal rhinosinusitis is a subtype which requires early detection by using appropriate tests and to make an accurate decision regarding the treatment modality. This study aims at determining the clinicomycological profile of fungal rhinosinusitis (FRS). A total of 105 patients with CRS were included in the study which was prospectively done during a time period of 18 months in a tertiary care hospital. All patients were subjected to CT scans and diagnostic nasal examinations (DNE) preoperatively. The sinonasal specimens were subjected to KOH mount, fungal culture and histopathological examination following functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS). 53% of the patients with fungal sinusitis belonged to the age group 41–60 years. The prevalence of FRS was found to be 38% with aspergillus species accounting for about 85% cases. FRS is a disease which can have a wide spectrum of clinical presentations requiring early detection and appropriate treatment which is essential to avoid both short term and long term sequalae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Allergic fungal rhino sinusitis (AFRS) is a non-invasive fungal sinusitis resulting from an allergic and immunologic response to the presence of extramucosal fungal hyphae in the sinuses. Defined largely by the presence of allergic fungal mucin, which is a thick, tenacious, and eosinophilic secretion with characteristic histologic findings. To present a case series on the variable presentations in patients diagnosed with AFRS. A retrospective study of 10 cases that presented to Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital ENT outpatient department with allergic fungal rhinosinusitis confirmed by diagnostic nasal endoscopy and CT scan who were managed successfully by endoscopic sinus surgery. In our study, out of 10 cases, nine patients had unilateral symptoms, only one patient has bilateral symptoms. Most common presentation was headache, facial pain, nasal obstruction, and nasal discharge. Some patients had variable presentations such as proptosis, oroantral fistula, blurring of vision, watering of eye, and unilateral frontal headache. On diagnostic nasal endoscopy, two patients had nasal polyposis. Complete disease clearance was achieved in nine cases by functional endoscopic sinus surgery. Patients were started on topical and oral corticosteroids, pre/postoperatively. On follow-up, only one patient had recurrence. Preventing and treating the condition, as well as its spread and complications, are greatly aided by early detection and management of AFRS. The key to enhancing the result is surgical intervention (endoscopic sinus surgery) and medical therapy (corticosteroids). Antifungals have limited role in treatment of AFRS. Longstanding unilateral Sinusitis should always raise suspicious of AFRS.

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Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of acute invasive fungal rhinosinusitis (AIFRS) at presentation and on follow-up imaging when patients receive treatment with systemic antifungal therapy and surgical debridement. Material and Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of imaging data from a cohort of patients diagnosed with AIFRS during the second wave of COVID-19 in single tertiary referral hospital in South India between March 2021 and May 2021 (n = 68). Final diagnosis was made using a composite reference standard which included a combination of MRI findings, clinical presentation, nasal endoscopy and intraoperative findings, and laboratory proof of invasive fungal infection. Analysis included 62 patients with “Definite AIFRS” findings on MRI and another six patients with “Possible AIFRS” findings on MRI and laboratory proof of invasive fungal infection. Follow-up imaging was available in 41 patients. Results: The most frequent MRI finding was T2 hypointensity in the sinonasal mucosa (94%) followed by mucosal necrosis/loss of contrast-enhancement (92.6%). Extrasinosal inflammation with or without necrosis in the pre-antral fat, retroantral fat, pterygopalatine fossa, and masticator space was seen in 91.1% of the cases. Extrasinosal spread was identified on MRI even when the computed tomography (CT) showed intact bone with normal extrasinosal density. Orbital involvement (72%) was in the form of contiguous spread from either the ethmoid or maxillary sinuses; the most frequent presentation being orbital cellulitis and necrosis, with some cases showing extension to the orbital apex (41%) and inflammation of the optic nerve (32%). A total of 22 patients showed involvement of the cavernous sinuses out of which 10 had sinus thrombosis and five patients had cavernous internal carotid artery involvement. Intracranial extension was seen both in the form of contiguous spread to the pachymeninges over the frontal and temporal lobes (25%) and intra-axial involvement in the form of cerebritis, abscesses, and infarcts (8.8%). Areas of blooming on SWI were noted within the areas of cerebritis and infarcts. Perineural spread of inflammation was seen along the mandibular nerves across foramen ovale in five patients and from the cisternal segment of trigeminal nerve to the root exit zone in pons in three patients. During follow-up, patients with disease progression showed involvement of the bones of skull base, osteomyelitis of the palate, alveolar process of maxilla, and zygoma. Persistent hyperenhancement in the post-operative bed after surgical debridement and resection was noted even in patients with stable disease. Conclusion: Contrast-enhanced MRI must be performed in all patients with suspected AIFRS as non-contrast MRI fails to demonstrate tissue necrosis and CT fails to demonstrate extrasinosal disease across intact bony walls. Orbital apex, pterygopalatine fossa, and the cavernous sinuses form important pathways for disease spread to the skull base and intracranial compartment. While cerebritis, intracranial abscesses, and infarcts can be seen early in the disease due to the angioinvasive nature, perineural spread and skull base infiltration are seen 3–4 weeks after disease onset. Exaggerated soft-tissue enhancement in the post-operative bed after debridement can be a normal finding and must not be interpreted as disease progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mucormycosis is a fungal infection with a high mortality rate due to a fungus of the mucorales order, ubiquitous in our environment. It is an uncommon disease that occurs in severely immunocompromised patients, poorly controlled diabetics, or those on chronic immunosuppression or corticoid therapy. It can also develop in immunocompetent patients with cutaneous lesions, facilitating their installation. Symptomatology varies depending on its location (rhino-orbito-cerebral, cutaneous, pulmonary, disseminated, etc.). The cases reported describe the management of 2 patients who presented with rhino-sinusal mucormycosis infection 3 months apart in the same geographic area. The risk factors and the evolution of the pathology were different in these 2 patients. This text also includes an explanation of the pathophysiology, a summary of the different diagnostic techniques, and management recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute Invasive Fungal Rhinosinusitis (AIFR) is a serious condition with aggressive course and high mortality rates. There is an upsurge in the incidence of invasive fungal rhinosinusitis in post COVID-19 patients. We have come across 20 AIFR cases in post COVID-19 patients. On retrospective exploration of the patient’s records, we found that 30% patients had received steroids and 90% had diabetes. All the patients were managed by administration of IV amphotericin B and local debridement of infected tissues. The mortality rate was as low as 15 %. We conclude that combined approach of Antifungal therapy with debridement of infected tissues improves the prognosis and survival of AIFR patients.

Every organ can be affected by Rosai-Dorfman disease, the most common being skin and soft tissue, bone and upper respiratory tract. Here we present a Rosai-Dorfman disease patient who manifested with multiple organ involvement. A 33-year-old male presented with multiple joint pain, diarrhea, a purulent nasal discharge and sinus pain. After having serials of investigations he was misdiagnosed as having tuberculosis and fungal sinusitis. Finally, cytology from lymph node aspiration suggested Rosai-Dorfman disease. The sino nasal presentation of Rosai-Dorfman disease can be misdiagnosed as fungal sinusitis and the gastrointestinal manifestation can mimic gastrointestinal tuberculosis. Diffuse joint involvement could also be an initial manifestation of Rosai-Dorfman disease.

To study the incidence and prevalence of fungal sinusitis and its variants in cases of chronic rhinosinusitis in department of ENT and Head and Neck surgery. The study group consisted of 100 patients of chronic rhinosinusitis attending the outpatient and inpatients in department of Otorhinolaryngology. History was taken and diagnostic nasal endoscopy was performed. Patients underwent endoscopic sinus surgery and systemic treatment when required. Pre surgery serum IgE and post-surgery Histopathology was sent. Out of 100 patients, Males > Females and median age was 45.50 years (range 34.25–59.25 years). On DNE, 88% had polyps with 88.1% males and 87.8% females in their respective groups. 47% had allergic mucin with 49.2% males and 43.9% females in their respective groups. 34% had discharge with 28.8% males and 41.5% females in their respective groups. 37% had fungal filaments with 37.3% males and 36.6% females in their respective groups. 26% had fungal sinusitis in our study among which 53.8% were males and 46.1% were females. Peak fungal sinusitis was in 3rd to 5th decade. Commonest organism isolated was Aspergillus. Serum IgE was higher in patients with fungal sinusitis and nasal polyposis. In conclusion, the proportion of patients with Fungal Sinusitis was 26% among 100 patients with chronic rhinosinusitis. We isolated Aspergillus as the predominant fungus followed by Biporalis and Mucorales genus. Serum IgE was higher in patients with fungal sinusitis and Nasal polyposis. Both immunocompromised and competent individuals were managed surgically and/or medically when required. Our study showed that early fungal sinusitis detection leads to better management practices and prevents its progression into more severe disease with complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Allergic fungal rhino sinusitis (AFRS) is a non-invasive fungal sinusitis resulting from an allergic and immunologic response to the presence of extramucosal fungal hyphae in the sinuses. Defined largely by the presence of allergic fungal mucin, which is a thick, tenacious, and eosinophilic secretion with characteristic histologic findings. To present a case series on the variable presentations in patients diagnosed with AFRS. A retrospective study of 10 cases that presented to Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital ENT outpatient department with allergic fungal rhinosinusitis confirmed by diagnostic nasal endoscopy and CT scan who were managed successfully by endoscopic sinus surgery. In our study, out of 10 cases, nine patients had unilateral symptoms, only one patient has bilateral symptoms. Most common presentation was headache, facial pain, nasal obstruction, and nasal discharge. Some patients had variable presentations such as proptosis, oroantral fistula, blurring of vision, watering of eye, and unilateral frontal headache. On diagnostic nasal endoscopy, two patients had nasal polyposis. Complete disease clearance was achieved in nine cases by functional endoscopic sinus surgery. Patients were started on topical and oral corticosteroids, pre/postoperatively. On follow-up, only one patient had recurrence. Preventing and treating the condition, as well as its spread and complications, are greatly aided by early detection and management of AFRS. The key to enhancing the result is surgical intervention (endoscopic sinus surgery) and medical therapy (corticosteroids). Antifungals have limited role in treatment of AFRS. Longstanding unilateral Sinusitis should always raise suspicious of AFRS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted this study to determine if serum galactomannan (GM) can be used as a marker to implicate the invasiveness of allergic fungal rhinosinusitis (AFRS), and correlate this value with the aggressiveness of disease documented via computed tomography (CT). All paranasal CT scans done for AFRS patients prospectively over a five-year period (2015–2019) were included. An indigenous 20-point score was used to document the extent of bone erosion seen on CT, wherein a higher score meant a greater extent of bone erosion. It was then correlated with serum GM scores. The median CT scores of galactomannan-positive (GM+) patients were compared with the median CT scores of galactomannan-negative (GM−) patients 3 using Mann–Whitney U test. The patients were divided into five groups based on the extent of disease-No bone erosion, erosion of only sinus wall/orbit, 3 erosion of orbit and skull base, erosion of only skull base and lateral extension of disease into infratemporal fossa (ITF). Subgroup analysis was conducted over mean GM values in these groups using ANOVA test. p-value < 0.05 was considered significant. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 25.0. A total of 92 patients were included (56 males, 36 females). No statistically significant difference was found (p-value = 0.42) between the CT scores of galactomannan-positive (GM+) group and galactomannan-negative (GM−) group. The mean GM scores amongst the five sub-groups did not show a statistically significant difference. Serum galactomannan values correlate poorly with aggressiveness of disease quantified on non-contrast CT of paranasal sinuses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Sinonasal and nasopharyngeal lesions is a common problem in the present environment with diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma. Majority of the lesions present clinically as polypoid masses. Histopathological examination of these lesions is essential for the definitive diagnosis because management and prognosis vary among different lesions. Aim: To determine the incidence of various nasal lesions reported in a rural tertiary care hospital, and to compare these lesions in relation to demographic data of the patients. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was conducted on the specimens received at histopathology section from the ENT department of a tertiary care hospital from April 2018 to November 2021. The specimens were fixed in 10% formalin, processed and then stained with haematoxylin and eosin. Required data were obtained from the histopathology records. Results: The present study was conducted on a total of 100 cases. Amongst these, 61 were males and 39 were females. An overall male predominance was noted. Maximum numbers of cases were diagnosed in the age group 31-40 years. Non neoplastic constituted N=86 cases (86%), neoplastic benign lesions constituting N=10 cases (10%) and malignant masses constituted N=04 cases (04%) of the total lesions in the present study. Inflammatory polyps were the most commonly diagnosed cases and few fungal rhinosinusitis in postCOVID-19 patients were noted in the present study. Inverted papillomas were predominant benign neoplastic lesions whereas nasopharyngeal carcinomas were noted as predominant malignant lesions. Conclusion: Most of the sinonasal and nasopharyngeal lesions reported were non neoplastic and inflammatory polyp being most common. Malignant lesions were reported in advanced age of life.

Objective: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of computed tomography (CT) of paranasal sinuses (PNS) in detecting fungal sinusitis keeping fungal culture as the gold standard. Study Design: Cross-sectional validation study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Radiology, Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Jun 2018 to Jun 2019. Methodology: A total of 323 patients of either gender were included in the study (aged from 10-70 years). All the patients underwent plain CT scans of paranasal sinuses, and the CT scan findings were reported and recorded on pre-designed proforma. Results were then compared with the culture report of each patient respectively. Results: Among all the patients undergoing CT scans, paranasal sinuses 177 were True Positives, while 07 were False Positives. Out of a total of 139 CT scan-negative patients, 6 (False Negative) had fungal sinusitis on culture, whereas 133 (True Negative) had no fungal sinusitis on culture (p=0.001). Overall sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and diagnostic accuracy of CT scan Paranasal sinuses were 96.72%, 95.0%, 96.20%, 95.68% and 95.98%,respectively. Conclusion: CT scan of paranasal sinuses is a highly sensitive and accurate non-invasive investigation in detecting fungal sinusitis.

Background: Acute invasive fungal sinusitis (AIFS) is an aggressive and dangerous disease of the paranasal sinuses with high morbidity and mortality. The immune response at the level of the nasal mucosa, the site of entry, has not been previously evaluated. Objective: To evaluate differential gene expression in the sinonasal mucosa of AIFS patients as compared to control patients using RNA sequencing. Methods: Sinonasal tissue samples were prospectively obtained from consenting patients undergoing surgery between November, 2020 and November, 2021. RNA extraction and sequencing were performed and differential expression was analyzed to detect transcriptional differences between patient groups. Results: Tissue samples were collected from 4 patients with active AIFS diagnoses, 2 patients with recovered AIFS, 1 patient with a diagnosis of non-invasive fungal ball, and 4 healthy controls. 255 genes were differentially expressed in AIFS patients as compared to control patients. Specific Gene Ontology (GO) biological processes that were identified as differentially expressed in AIFS patients as compared to controls included the following: 1. GO:0007155 (cell adhesion), 2. GO:0030199 (collagen fibril organization) and 3. GO:0001525 (angiogenesis). Conclusion: Transcriptional differences were noted between AIFS and control patients in sinonasal tissue samples. Future work is necessary to determine causes of the differential gene expressions between AIFS and control patients, specifically those who are immunosuppressed, or with preexisting non-invasive forms of fungal sinusitis, to guide treatment and prevention strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The most common type of noninvasive fungal rhinosinusitis is fungus ball (FB), which usually involves a solitary paranasal sinus. Multiple fungus balls (MFBs) are rarely reported in literature. The purpose of this study was to analyze and compare the clinical features of MFBs and solitary fungus ball (SFB). Methods: We retrospectively investigated consecutive cases of FB between 2001 and 2018 and compared the clinical records of SFB with MFBs with respect to demographics, clinical features, location, radiological findings, and operative outcome. Results: A total of 440 SFB and 43 MFBs cases were included in the study. The mean age was 55.3 ± 13.3 and 60.6 ± 10.9 years, respectively (P =.011). The incidence of MFBs obviously increased from 2001 to 2018. The clinical symptoms and laboratory examination were similar. On computed tomography images, complete opacification, septal deviation, Haller cells, and obstruction of ostiomeatal complex were more common (P <.05). The incidence of SFB on the left and right sides was similar, while MFBs were seen to involve both sides in 74.4%. Conclusions: Compared with SFB, MFBs showed some special characteristics. The MFBs affected older patients showed wide range of lesions and complex anatomy. Surgical technique is very important. Much more attention should be paid to this not so uncommon disease during the perioperative period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meningiomas are the most common tumors that develop following cranial radiotherapy. They have a shorter latency period and an aggressive behavior when compared with spontaneously occurring meningiomas. We report a 69-year-old male who underwent high-dose radiotherapy for recurrent pituitary adenoma and later developed temporal high-grade meningioma which was excised. Patient developed tumor bed bleed twice in the postoperative period and succumbed subsequently to the disease. After a thorough review of literature, this may be the second case of radiation-induced grade III papillary meningioma which has been reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute Invasive Fungal Rhinosinusitis (AIFR) is a serious condition with aggressive course and high mortality rates. There is an upsurge in the incidence of invasive fungal rhinosinusitis in post COVID-19 patients. We have come across 20 AIFR cases in post COVID-19 patients. On retrospective exploration of the patient's records, we found that 30% patients had received steroids and 90% had diabetes. All the patients were managed by administration of Iv amphotericin B and local debridement of infected tissues. The mortality rate was as low as 15 %. We conclude that combined approach of Antifungal therapy with debridement of infected tissues improves the prognosis and survival of AIFR patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To introduce an intraoperative scoring system for covid-19 associatedmucormycosis An observational study conducted among 43 cases of confirmed CAM whichincluded 35 males and 8 females, with an average age of 56 years. The surgicalapproach adopted in our cases included endoscopic surgical debridement withDenker's approach including mandatory pterygopalatine and infratemporal fossaexploration. All cases were intraoperatively scored using our designed intraoperativescoring assessment tool for mucormycosis. Postoperatively patient recovery wasassessed using C reactive protein levels and weekly imaging. Although an early observation in the post op period we observed highermortality among cases reporting with high scores as per our intraoperative reportingsystem. At the end of 2 months of completed treatment we report 6 cases of mortalityamong whom 5 cases were found to have scores (> 25) and one reported with a scoreof 18. This assessment helped us in grading the disease severity and also gaveus an insight about the postoperative prognosis too. Global scientific collaboration andreporting of a validated tool for CAM is of paramount importance to increase theknowledge with regard to this emerging disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black fungus, also known as mucormycosis, is one of the most serious infections affecting immunocompromised individuals. Invasive fungal sinusitis due to mucormycosis is quite rare globally. Hence, this article presents a case report of invasive fungal sinusitis in a 53-year-old diabetic female who presented to the emergency department with a severe case of diabetic ketoacidosis secondary to acute sinusitis, which was confirmed by histopathology to be mucormycosis. An extensive surgical debridement and liposomal amphotericin B were the mainstay of treatment. The treatment of mucormycosis consists of treating the underlying disease, antifungal therapy, and surgical debridement. Also, previous studies have discussed the use of medical therapy alone, surgical therapy alone, and combination therapy. It was found that the combination of medical and surgical therapy was the most effective method in treating this condition. However, the high mortality rate of this disease indicates the need for a possible adjuvant therapy which could increase the survival rate. Therefore, recent studies have proposed new adjuvant modalities, such as hyperbaric oxygen therapy and local treatment with amphotericin B. In this study, we propose a new adjuvant therapy using local miconazole cream which showed a good prognosis with the combination of oral amphotericin B and surgical debridement. This highlights the necessity for extensive future clinical trials to validate its effectiveness in treating isolated sinus mucormycosis., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Aljubran et al.)

Objective: Steroid eluting stents have proven to be a highly useful adjunctive therapy for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and play an important role in the treatment of many inflammatory diseases of the sinuses. Few reports of adverse events were reported in clinical trials and are described in the literature. However, we describe the first known case of an immunocompetent patient developing non-invasive fungal tissue infection as a sequelae of stent-related tissue necrosis requiring surgical debridement. Methods: A 69-year-old immunocompetent male with CRS had Propel™ stents placed in the bilateral frontal sinus outflow tracts during revision endoscopic sinus surgery. He presented 2 weeks post-operatively with severe facial pain without vision changes, fevers, mental status changes, or evidence of cranial neuropathies. On rigid nasal endoscopy, necrotic tissue and gross fungal elements were visualized in the left frontal sinus outflow tract at the area of previous steroid stent position. Results: The patient was taken for urgent endoscopic sinus surgery and debridement given significant symptoms and concern for invasive fungal infection. A revision left maxillectomy, ethmoidectomy, and draf 2b frontal sinus drillout were performed, with healthy bleeding tissue encountered beneath necrotic tissue. Pathology revealed tissue necrosis, exudative lumenal debris, and extensive fungal elements with no evidence of tissue invasion, and cultures yielded growth of aspergillus niger. The patient's symptoms improved significantly on post-operative day 1, he had normal post-operative changes at 2 weeks following debridement, and had no recurrence of fungal infection with complete healing at 4 months. Conclusion: While likely rare, steroid-eluting stents may pose a risk of saprophytic tissue infection as a result of tissue necrosis and local immunosuppression. Caution should be taken in using these devices in immunocompromised patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungal sphenoiditis is a rare case in clinical practice. Usually affecting just one sinus, Aspergillus is the most common cause of fungal sinusitis. Atypical headache with unresponsive to analgetics is one of symptom from Isolated Sphenoid sinusitis. This case report presents a 37 year old female with isolated sphenoiditis fungal. The patient came with atypical headache as the major symptom. Based on the morphology of the sphenoid sinus and its surrounding structures, diagnosis is often challenging. After some medicine, the chief complaint did not disappear. A functional endoscopic sinus surgery was performed to remove the fungal ball, and the patient get good result. • Atypical headache have numerous causes. • Because of high costs, neurologists in developing countries do not perform CT scans when patients arrive • This leads to a delayed or incorrect diagnosis. • Isolated Sphenoid Fungal Sinusitis is a rare case, seen in fewer than 3% of all sinusitis patients. • Its optimal management is endoscopic intranasal transphenoidal approach without the need for antifungal therapy [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invasive fungal infections are associated with increased mortality in hematological patients. Despite considerable advances in antifungal therapy, the evaluation of suspected treatment failure is a common clinical challenge requiring extensive diagnostic testing to rule out potential causes, such as mixed infections. We present a 64-year-old patient with secondary AML, diabetes mellitus, febrile neutropenia, and sinusitis. While cultures from nasal tissue grew Aspergillus flavus, a microscopic examination of the tissue was suggestive of concomitant mucormycosis. However, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using specific probes targeting Aspergillus and Mucorales species ruled out mixed infection. This was confirmed by specific qPCR assays amplifying the DNA of Aspergillus, but not of Mucorales. These results provided a rational basis for step-down targeted therapy, i.e., the patient received posaconazole after seven days of calculated dual therapy with liposomal amphotericin B and posaconazole. Despite clinical response to the antifungal therapy, he died due to the progression of the underlying disease within two weeks after diagnosis of fungal infection. Molecular diagnostics applied to tissue blocks may reveal useful information on the etiology of invasive fungal infections, including challenging situations, such as with mixed infections. A thorough understanding of fungal etiology facilitates targeted therapy that may improve therapeutic success while limiting side effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungal sinusitis is a sinus infection that results from fungus. It occurs mostly in uncontrolled diabetes, debilitated patients and in patients on immuno-suppressants, antibiotics or steroids. There are several types of fungus sinus infections. Some types can cause serious health problems and death. Debilitated patients have a higher risk of complications from fungal sinusitis. The objective is to study the incidence and clinical profile of fungal sinusitis in debilitated patients with poor oral health. This was a prospective study in which 50 patients with fungal sinusitis who underwent treatment in School of medical science and research over 1 year were randomized into the study. So patients were selected from which 25 patients were male and 25 patients were female in age group of 45-70 years. Various examinations were conducted at different times which included microscopic, serological diagnosis and histopathological examination. Fungal sinusitis was more common in the elderly age groups with debilitated diseases and poor oral health. Fungal sinusitis was comparatively more common among immunocompressant individuals. Surgery with chemotherapy offered better treatment outcome as compared to single modality. Early detection and treatment of fungal sinusitis is the key in tackling this clinical condition which can otherwise be fatal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To find the diagnostic accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging in diagnosing the Acute Invasive Fungal Sinusitis taking histopathology as a gold standard. Study Design: Retrospective study. Place and Duration of Study: Radiology Department of Doctor's Trust Teaching Hospital, Sargodha, from Mar 2019 to Aug 2019. Methodology: The study was conducted in the Radiology Department of Doctor's Trust Teaching Hospital affiliated with Rai Medical College, Sargodha from the period of March 2019 to August 2019. The size of the sample was 17 patients who were immune compromised and was diagnosed for acute fungal sinusitis. The magnetic resonance imaging scans were reviewed by the senior radiologist and histopathology reports and survival data was also recorded for the patients. Results: The diagnostic results of magnetic resonance imaging were sensitive and accurate in predicting the acute invasive fungal sinusitis in patients. The sensitivity of the results was 85% and the specificity of the results was 96%. The positive predictive value for magnetic resonance imaging was 94% and the negative predictive value for magnetic resonance imaging was also 96%. Conclusion: It was concluded from the study that magnetic resonance imaging is a sensitive diagnostic tool for predicting the acute invasive fungal sinusitis.

Fungal rhinosinusitis is a broad group of diseases that includes noninvasive and invasive forms with overlapping clinical presentations. While most cases of fungal rhinosinusitis follow an indolent clinical course, surgical pathologists play a crucial role in early identification of life-threating subtypes, specifically invasive fungal rhinosinusitis. This review describes fungal infections of the sinonasal tract and their histopathologic mimickers. Clinical, gross, and microscopic features that are important for diagnosis, as well as available ancillary studies, are discussed., Competing Interests: Disclosure The authors have no relevant conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The differential diagnosis of unilateral sinus disease (USD) is broad, and while concerning etiologies like sinonasal neoplasia, invasive fungal sinusitis, and cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea should always be considered, most cases are due to noninvasive inflammatory or infectious conditions. To diagnose USD appropriately, clinicians must integrate the clinical history and examination, nasal endoscopy, computed tomography (CT), and possibly MRI. Odontogenic sinusitis (ODS) is the most common cause of unilateral maxillary sinus opacification on CT, with 45% to 75% of such cases being odontogenic in nature. This study provides USD diagnostic considerations and reinforces the diagnostic approach to ODS., Competing Interests: Disclosure J.R. Craig: Research consultant, Aerin Medical Inc., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Rhinocerebral mucormycosis (RCM) may result in severe intracranial ischemic and hemorrhagic lesions. Both computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) play an essential role in the diagnosis of RCM, but whereas CT is better for assessing bone erosion, MRI is superior in evaluating soft tissue, intraorbital extension, and in assessing intracranial and vascular invasion. Specific CT and MRI techniques, such as CT angiography or enhanced MR angiography, and more advanced MRI sequences such as gadolinium-3D Black Blood imaging, contribute to the assessment of the extension of vascular invasion. In this pictorial review, we describe specific CT and MRI signs of RCM, mainly focusing on its life-threatening complications due to vascular involvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The treatment protocol for COVID-19 along with the presence of important confounders like diabetes and immunocompromised states may predispose individuals to COVID-19-associated mucormycosis. Since mucormycosis is a rapidly progressive and invasive infection with intracranial complications, early diagnosis followed by aggressive medical and surgical interventions is imperative to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with the disease. The role of dental practitioners in early recognition and referral of the patient is thus paramount. A systematic investigation on the PubMed Database was undertaken and available data were compiled. This paper presents a review of mucormycosis in the current COVID-19 scenario, to act as a ready reference for dental practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]