Bipolaris spicifera causes fungus balls of the sinuses and triggers polypoid chronic rhinosinusitis in an immunocompetent patient.
We report the rare case of a 19-year-old immunocompetent male suffering both from fungus balls of the sinuses and from chronic rhinosinusitis with massive polyposis. Endoscopic sinus surgery revealed grayish brown necrotic masses embedded in viscous eosinophilic mucus. Inoculated onto petri dishes, these masses as well as the mucus grew a dark pigmented fungus, which was identified as Bipolaris spicifera.
Buzina
Walter
W
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Medical School, Graz, Austria. walter.buzina@uni-graz.at
Braun
Hannes
H
Schimpl
Kerstin
K
Stammberger
Heinz
H
D000328:Adult; D001203:Ascomycota / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D007121:Immunocompetence; D008297:Male; D009181:Mycoses / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010256:Paranasal Sinuses / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D011127:Polyps; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology