Aim: To determine the characteristics of patients with chronic fungal rhinosinusitis surgically treated at the Clinic for Otorhinolaryngology, Clinical Centar of Vojvodina, from 2011 to 2016.
Introduction: The incidence of fungal rhinosinusitis in European counties is steadily growing. The reason behind this is the increased usage of immunosuppressive therapy, antibiotics and changes in everyday behaviors (increased stays in rooms with air-condition).
Methods: The study included 21 patients diagnosed with fungal rhinosinusitis. The patient's data was collected from their medical history.
Results: The mean age of the patients was 45±16.51, with females being more often affected (11/21). The most commonly affected sinus was the maxillary sinus (54.67%), after that the sphenoid (20.83%), posterior ethmoid (18.5%), anterior ethmoid (8.33), and frontal (4.17%). Aspergillus was the most common cause (57.14%), mucormycosis was found once (4.78%). Staphylococcus aureus was isolated in 7 (33.33%) patients. Clinical symptoms were dominated by intensive facial pain and nasal secretion (found in all patients). Nasal congestion was present in 85.71% patients, less common was loss of sense of smell, in 47.62%. Endoscopic results showed significant differences between the characteristics of mucosa and mucus of the healthy and affected side of the patient's face. Significant differences are present in CT scans in all sinuses when the sinuses of the healthy and affected side of the patient's face were compared.
Conclusion: Clinical symptoms of patients with fungal rhinosinusitis were dominated by facial pain, nasal secretion and nasal congestion. Endoscopy shows pathological changes in the mucosa of the affected side of the patient's face, with viscous mucous secretions. Intraoperative findings show unilateral affection of the sinuses in all patients, most commonly in the maxillary sinus. The sphenoid snius was less commonly affected, the ethmoid and frontal were rarely affected. Aspergillus is proven to be the most common cause.