Frequency of Fungal Diseases in Nasal and Paranasal Sinuses Masses

Abstract

Background: Nasal polyps/nasal masses are common problems in our community that bring the patient to clinical attention because of worsening symptoms of nasal obstruction, referred pain and discomfort in paranasal sinuses and sometimes problems of vision. Histopathologic examination categorizes the nasal masses into different entities. Suspicion of fungal infection was one of the differentials in recurrent infections and in immunocompromised individuals. Objective: To determine the frequency of fungal disease in nasal and paranasal sinuses mass/biopsies on histopathological examination. Study Design: This was a descriptive study. Settings: ENT department of Sheikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore Pakistan. Duration: Two years from September 2011 to September 2013. Methods: Surgical specimens of 60 patients presenting in ENT department of Sheikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore with the complaint of nasal polyps or nasal /paranasal sinuses masses. Results: Biopsies procured from these sixty patients were examined histologically. Out of these sixty cases 11 patients were found to have fungal growth in the surgical specimens on histological examination. 48 patients had diagnosis of “inflamed/allergic nasal polypi”. Two of the cases were having chronic granulomatous inflammation. One case out of these 60 cases was diagnosed as having mass due to chronic granulomatous inflammation. In one case the granulomatous inflammation was associated with fungal infection while in other case it was most likely caused by tuberculosis. Conclusion: Fungal disease/fungal mass were present in 18% patients of nasal polyposis, chronic sinusitis with nasal obstruction/masses. Female were the majority in the positive population. Based on morphological features most common (91%) fungal species was Aspergillus.