title: Allergic fungal sinusitis: can we predict the recurrence?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The goal of the present study was to find out if recurrence can be predicted in cases of allergic fungal sinusitis. We also studied the influence of postoperative corticosteroid therapy on recurrence following surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was conducted at the ENT Department of Al Nahdha Hospital, which is a tertiary referral and teaching hospital in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman. The study is a retrospective analysis of 32 cases of allergic fungal sinusitis. Age, sex, extent of disease, and preoperative serum IgE levels were compared in patients who had recurrence with those who did not. We also studied the incidence, onset, and severity of recurrence in patients who received systemic corticosteroid as postoperative therapy and compared these values to those who received nasal corticosteroid spray only.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No statistically significant difference was noted in the parameters of age, sex, extent of disease, and preoperative serum IgE levels when these values were compared in the group of patients who had recurrence (8 patients) with the group of patients who did not (32 patients). No statistically significant difference was found in the incidence of recurrence in patients in whom systemic corticosteroids were used postoperatively (17 patients) compared with patients who used nasal corticosteroid spray only (15 patients). However, when the patient had a recurrence, when it occurred it was earlier and more severe in patients who used nasal corticosteroid spray only (4 patients).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  At the present time, it is not possible to predict recurrence using parameters of age, sex, extent of disease, and serum IgE levels. Larger number of patients preferably in a prospective multicenter meta study are required to address this issue. Though use of systemic corticosteroid does not decrease the incidence of recurrence, it may delay the onset of recurrence and decrease the severity of recurrence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology and Communication Disorders, Al Nahdha Hospital, Muscat, PC 112, Sultanate of Oman. masohail@omantel.net.om
authors.forename: Masroor Alam
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Sohail
authors.forename: Mazin Jawad
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Al Khabori
authors.forename: Jamil
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hyder
authors.forename: Ashok
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Verma
mesh_terms: D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009181:Mycoses / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D013517:Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D007073:Immunoglobulin E