title: Clinical Characteristics of Sphenoid Sinus Fungal Ball Patients With Visual Disturbance.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A sphenoid sinus fungal ball is a rare disease that can cause visual disturbances. Most afflicted patients remain in an indolent state. However, once the visual disturbance has occurred, the recovery rate is very low. The purpose of this study was to overview the clinical characteristics of patients with a sphenoid sinus fungal ball and ascertain factors possibly related to the occurrence of a visual disturbance.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of all patients who underwent endoscopic sinus surgery for a sphenoid sinus fungal ball at our hospital. We enrolled 47 patients in this study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Old age and a female predominance were noted. Nasal symptoms were the most common symptom. Eight patients showed visual disturbances. We also compared the clinical characteristics between patients with and without visual disturbances in univariate analysis. Old age, underlying diabetes mellitus, and a sphenoid sinus wall defect visible by computed tomography were factors significantly related to the occurrence of visual disturbances. But only sphenoid sinus wall defect showed significance in multivariate analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is important to prevent complications, such as visual disturbance, in patients with a sphenoid sinus fungal ball. This study describes an early surgical treatment that may be required for patients with a sphenoid sinus fungal ball and particularly patients with a sphenoid sinus wall defect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jong Sei
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Byung Kil
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Duk
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyung Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyo Yeol
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Kim
keywords: Aspergillosis; Sphenoid Sinus; Vision Disorders