title: Parasellar Aspergillus granuloma extending from the sphenoid sinus: report of two cases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sphenoid sinus aspergillosis is a rare disease known to show an aggressive course with high mortality. Early diagnosis, though difficult, is required to prevent lethal fungal meningoencephalitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We describe two cases of parasellar Aspergillus granuloma extending from the sphenoid sinus clinically indistinguishable from intracranial neoplasms. In the first patient, the fungus colony was visualized by computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as a calcified concretion and total removal was curative. In the second patient, partial removal and subsequent antifungal therapy had minimal effect.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prognosis of the patients with this disease depends on prompt surgical treatment before intradural invasion occurs, and CT and MRI are useful diagnostic maneuvers for detecting calcified Aspergillus colonies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Fuji Brain Institute and Hospital, Shizuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kurita
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shiokawa
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Furuya
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Segawa
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sano
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006099:Granuloma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D010254:Paranasal Sinus Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy; D012658:Sella Turcica / Q000382:microbiology*; D013101:Sphenoid Sinus / Q000382:microbiology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed