title: Mycotic sinusitis.
abstract: In recent years, Extramucosal Fungal Sinusitis (EFS) in immunocompetent hosts have aroused increasing interest from both clinicians and pathologists. Histopathologically, they are characterized by the presence of fungal hyphae in the lumen of the sinus with no tissue invasion. They include two different entities: the mycetoma and the atopical fungal sinusitis (AFS). The mycetoma is the most frequent and best recognized form of EFS. The clinical picture is that of a unilateral symptomatic chronic sinusitis, often painful, unresponsive to appropriate medical treatment. CT scanning is very evocative in most cases. Definitive diagnosis requires histological and bacteriological examinations of the sinus contents. Surgery is the treatment of choice. Additional antifungal therapy is not indicated unless there is fungal tissue invasion. AFS is a distinct form of EFS. It typically occurs in an atopic patient with a long story of either chronic sinusitis or recalcitrant nasal polyposis recurring after adequate medical treatment or previous sinus surgery. Histopathologically, the pathognomonic pattern shows an "allergic mucin" and scanty fragmented fungal hyphae. Culture is the only way to identify the causative agent. Management should include wide radical sinus surgery combined with long-term nasal steroids. In spite of proper medico-surgical management, the prognosis remains variable and recurrences frequently arise.
authors.affiliation: Catholic University of Louvain (UCL), Cliniques Universitaires UCL de Mont-Godinne, Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Yvoir, Belgium.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Eloy
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bertrand
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rombeaux
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Delos
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Trigaux
mesh_terms: D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005658:Fungi / Q000254:growth & development; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D007121:Immunocompetence; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D009077:Mucins; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000382:microbiology; D008271:Mycetoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D009181:Mycoses / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D009298:Nasal Polyps / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D010256:Paranasal Sinuses / Q000382:microbiology; D012008:Recurrence; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000601:surgery; D013256:Steroids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D009077:Mucins; D013256:Steroids