Prevalence of noninvasive fungal sinusitis in South Australia.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to document the prevalence of noninvasive fungal sinusitis in patients with chronic sinusitis and thick viscous secretions in South Australia.


METHODS
We studied of 349 patients with chronic rhinosinusitis undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery in a specialized rhinology practice. Patients with nasal polyposis and thick fungal-like sinus mucin had operative samples sent for microscopy and fungal culture. Evidence of atopy was taken as positive radioallergosorbent or skin-prick tests to fungi.


RESULTS
One hundred and thirty-four (38%) patients were noted to have thick, viscid sinus mucin, raising suspicion of fungal disease. Ninety-three patients had positive fungal cultures or microscopy (26.6%). It was possible to classify 95.5% of the patients into subgroups of noninvasive fungal sinusitis or nonfungal sinusitis: 8.6% of patients with allergic fungal sinusitis, 1.7% of patients with allergic fungal sinusitis-like sinusitis, 15.2% of patients with chronic fungal sinusitis, one patient with a fungal ball, and the remaining 69% of patients with nonfungal chronic sinusitis.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first prospective study to evaluate the prevalence of these increasingly widely recognized conditions. It highlights the need for otolaryngologists to be alert to these not uncommon diagnoses in order for early, appropriate medical and surgical management to be instituted.
Collins
Melanie M
MM
Department of Surgery-Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia.
Nair
Salil B
SB
Wormald
Peter-John
PJ
D002908:Chronic Disease; D004724:Endoscopy; D006801:Humans; D009077:Mucins; D009181:Mycoses / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery; D009298:Nasal Polyps / Q000601:surgery; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011852:Radioallergosorbent Test; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000601:surgery; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000601:surgery; D012882:Skin Tests; D013021:South Australia / Q000453:epidemiology
D009077:Mucins