title: Fungus balls of the bilateral paranasal sinuses.
abstract: We describe the clinical and radiographic characteristics of fungus balls in the bilateral paranasal sinuses. The medical records of 8 of 245 patients with fungus balls of the bilateral paranasal sinuses between 2000 and 2010 were retrospectively reviewed. The incidence of bilateral paranasal sinus fungus balls was 3.3%. Fungus balls were located in the maxillary sinuses bilaterally in 4 cases (50%), followed by the maxillary sinus and contralateral sphenoid sinus in 3 cases (37.5%), and the sphenoid sinuses bilaterally in 1 case (12.5%). There were no predisposing anatomic variations for the occurrence of bilateral paranasal fungus balls. Although the presenting symptoms and signs were non-specific, CT findings were helpful in the diagnosis of bilateral fungus balls. Endonasal removal by an endoscopic approach was performed in all patients. No peri-operative complications or recurrences were noted. Fungus balls in the bilateral paranasal sinuses are most frequently found in the maxillary sinuses bilaterally. Because symptoms of bilateral paranasal fungus balls and findings on nasal endoscopic examination are frequently non-specific, a high index of suspicion is needed and imaging studies, such as CT, are essential to establish the correct pre-operative diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Chonnam National University Medical School and Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Hwasun, South Korea.
authors.forename: Dong Hoon
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, South Korea.
authors.forename: Young Eun
authors.initials: YE
authors.lastname: Joo
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Chonnam National University Medical School and Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Hwasun, South Korea ; Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Chonnam National University Medical School and Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, 160 Ilsimri, Hwasun, Jeollanamdo, 519-809 South Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Chul
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Lim
keywords: Bilateral; Endoscopic surgical procedure; Fungus disease; Paranasal sinuses; Sinusitis