Isolated sphenoid sinus aspergillomas
Yiotakis, I.; Psarommatis, I.; Seggas, I.; Manolopoulos, L.; Ferekidis, E.; Adamopoulos, G.
Rhinology 35(3): 136-139
1997
ISSN/ISBN: 0300-0729 PMID: 9403946 Document Number: 483170
Fungi are more often than previously believed to be the causative organisms of paranasal sinusitis. Aspergillus, a fungus belonging to the Ascomycetes class, accounts for the majority of these infections, which affect not only debilitated patients but healthy people as well. There are two distinct clinical forms of Aspergillus sinusitis, invasive and non-invasive, and each of them is further divided in two subtypes. Isolated aspergillosis of the sphenoid sinus is a rare disease, which is usually misdiagnosed for a long time because of its varying symptomatology. In the present study, four cases of isolated sphenoid Aspergillus disease are described and the recent literature is reviewed. Physicians should be aware of this rare clinical entity, as in many cases early diagnosis and appropriate treatment provide the key to achieve favourable outcomes.