Endoscopic treatment of allergic fungal sinusitis

Abstract

Fungal sinusitis has been seen increasingly in immunocompetent individuals. The literature has stressed the importance of diagnosing these cases. Surgical debridement is the treatment of choice. Six immunocompetent individuals with allergic fungal sinusitis were seen at West Virginia University between January 1992 and December 1993. After adequate evaluation, endoscopic surgical debridement was performed. After surgery they were treated with systemic or topical steroids and oral antibiotics for several weeks. Two patients required a second procedure within a year. Four of our six patients had positive fungal cultures for Aspergillus or Curvularia. None of our patients had evidence of invasive disease on histopathology, and systemic antifungal therapy was not required. Patient course and response will be discussed in detail along with a brief review of allergic fungal sinusitis.