title: Invasive sinusitis with intracranial extension caused by Curvularia lunata.
abstract: Curvularia lunata has previously been linked to localized sinus infection in immunocompetent hosts. We treated a case of pansinusitis with extensive bone destruction and intracranial extension caused by C lunata. Curvularia lunata was identified when typical fungal macroconidia appeared on culture. Numerous surgical procedures, in addition to a 12-month course of antifungal therapy consisting of 4 g of intravenous amphotericin B and an 8-month course of 400 mg of oral ketoconazole daily, were required to control the infection. This unusual case of invasive sinusitis caused by C lunata alerts the treating physician to the presence of this mold and gives an overview of diagnostic method as well as the management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Kern Medical Center, UCLA School of Medicine, Bakersfield.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ismail
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Wells
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pusavat
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Douglas
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Arsura
mesh_terms: D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D003904:Mitosporic Fungi / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009181:Mycoses / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy; D012886:Skull / Q000382:microbiology