Unilateral colonization of fungal infection presenting as renal mass in young patient: A case report

Fungal ball or fungal bezoar is the saprophytic colonization of a preformed cavity by a conglomerate of fungal mycelia without invasion of the adjacent tissue. Fungal bezoar is seen commonly in immunocompromised individuals. We present a case of urinary tract infection, complicated by unliateral fungus balls in a 25-year old female whose imaging findings (USG and CT scan), laboratory investigation and histopathological findings are consistent with renal fungal ball. Keywords: fungal ball; urinary tract infection.

Aspergillus sphenoiditis growth on long cut ends of a non-absorbable sellar floor dura closure suture

Background: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea is a common complication after transsphenoidal surgery (TSS). Suturing of sellar dura is effective in the prevention of postoperative CSF rhinorrhea, but it may cause rare postoperative infections. Herein, we report a case of Aspergillus sphenoiditis with the growth noted on cut ends of a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) suture used for dural closure. Case Description: A previously healthy 51-year-old woman complained of abnormal odor 5 years after TSS for null cell adenoma. A white mass in the sphenoidal sinus was detected on rhinoscopy. Fungal balls were found clustered around the ends of a PVDF suture used for dural closure at the initial surgery. She underwent removal of both the fungal ball and dural suture. The pathological diagnosis was Aspergillus hyphae. It is thought that a dural suture protruding out of the sphenoid sinus mucosa can cause Aspergillus infection even in immunocompetent patients. A rapid and accurate diagnosis followed by surgical removal of the fungal ball and follow-up with oral antimycotic drugs result in good clinical outcomes. Conclusion: It is crucial to cut short the suture end and cover it with sphenoid sinus mucosa to avoid such complications.

CLINICAL AND RADIOLOGICAL FEATURES OF THE MAXILLARY SINUS IN PATIENTS AFTER REMOVAL OF FUNGAL BALL AND THEIR IMPACT ON THE FREQUENCY OF SUBANTRAL BONE AUGMENTATION COMPLICATIONS.

The mucoperiostitis and local osteitis are radiological symptoms of the fungal ball of the maxillary sinuses. The condition of the mucoperiosteum and the adjacent bone in the alveolar bay of the maxillary sinus predict the results of dental implantation and subantral augmentation. The endoscopic access to the sinus by the antrostomy in the middle meatus and infraturbinal have been used to avoid excessive tissue injury during the removal of the fungal ball. Aim: To assess the condition of the bone and mucoperiosteum of the maxillary sinus in patients with fungal ball after rhinosurgery by the antrostomy with additional osteoplastic infraturbinal access. Methods and materials: The data of 102 patients who underwent surgery for the fungal ball of the maxillary sinus were analyzed, and subsequently - subantral bone augmentation and dental implantation were performed. In patients of the first group (67 people) - endoscopic intervention was performed by antrostomy in the middle meatus, and in 2nd group (35 people) - additional osteoplastic infraturbinal access was used. Result: Computed tomography data were evaluated before endoscopic sinus surgery and before subantral augmentation. The frequency of signs and severity of osteitis according to Kannedy Osteitis Score, after the intervention did not change significantly, and was established as 0.90 ± 0.07 in patients of group №1 and 0.77 ± 0.08 – group №2. The total frequency of complications with subantral augmentation in the comparison groups was 17.91 ± 4.68% and 17.14 ± 6.37%, respectively. Symptoms of osteitis in patients with fungal ball of the maxillary sinus after endoscopic removal, in the first 4 - 6 months of observation tend to regress, but do not disappear. Conclusions: The incidence of osteitis in computed tomography in patients with maxillary sinuses fungal balls in 4.8 months after endoscopic removal tends to decrease and is 77.61 ± 5.09% when approach through the middle meatus and 74.29 ± 7, 39% in patients with combined infraturbinal approach. The use of additional infraturbinal approach in patients with a fungal ball does not adversely affect the results of subsequent subantral augmentation and dental implantation.

A Schizophyllum commune fungus ball in a lung cancer cavity: a case report

Background Schizophyllum commune is a basidiomycete that lives in the environment and can cause infections, mainly those of the respiratory system. Although S. commune is increasingly reported as a cause of allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis and sinusitis, cases of fungal ball formation are extremely uncommon. Identification of S. commune is difficult using routine mycological diagnostic methods, and in clinically suspicious cases, internal transcribed spacer sequencing should be used for diagnosis. Here, we report a first case of lung cancer with a fungal ball formation of S. commune, confirmed by analyzing the internal transcribed spacer. Case presentation A 76-year-old man with diabetes and hypertension was admitted to the hospital with a chief complaint of hemosputum, which he had for about 19 months. A computed tomography image of the patient’s chest showed a cavity and internal nodule in the left upper lobe of his lung. A left upper lobectomy was performed, and histopathological examination revealed squamous cell carcinoma of the lung and a fungal ball. The isolate from the surgical specimen was identified as S. commune by analyzing the internal transcribed spacer. The patient had no recurrence of the infection during 5 months of follow-up. Conclusions Only three cases of lung fungal balls caused by S. commune have been previously reported, and this is the first case of lung cancer cavity with a fungal ball formation. In cases of fungal ball formation in the lung, S. commune should be considered a possible causative microorganism.

Efficacy of Different Modalities of Treatment in Management of Different Types of Fungal Sinusits

Background Fungal sinusitis is generally classified into invasive and non invasive fungal sinusitis based on histological features, invasive fungal sinusitis divided into acute, chronic and chronic granulomatous invasive fungal sinusitis. While non invasive fungal sinusitis include saprophytic fungal infestation, fungal ball, and fungus-related eosinophilic. Distinguishing invasive disease from noninvasive disease is important because the treatment and prognosis are different for each. AIM A systemic review of effective and safe method in management of different types of fungal sinusitis either by medical or surgical approaches or even combined. Be up to date with the different upcoming new modalities. Methodology A meta-analysis study is done to evaluate the medical and surgical outcomes of patients with invasive and noninvasive Fungal Sinusits. Results Finally, forty-five studies were included in the present systematic review and metaanalysis. Fifteen included studies (No = 539 patients) assessed different modalities for management of fungal ball, via classic endoscopic technique, Canine-fossa approach, gauze technique and osteoplastic approach for FB of the maxillary sinus. The results showed that functional endoscopic sinus surgery has led to success rate of 98.1%. Twenty included studies (No = 806 patients) have assessed the efficacy and safety of different modalities for the management of allergic fungal sinusitis via,Endoscopic Sinus Surgery, Post-ESS Systemic steroids, Antifungals and immunotherapy. The results showed that ESS represents the firstline management strategy of AFRS, followed by aggressive medical therapies, the recurrence rate after postoperative steroids was 20.6%, postoperative antifungals was 40% and after immunotherapy was 9.1%. Ten studies (No = 327 patients) for Invasive Fungal Sinusitis.the results showed that combination of systematic antifungal therapy and aggressive surgical debridement are the treatment of choice. Conclusion FESS is the treatment of choice of fungal ball via classic endoscopic technique, Canine-fossa approach, gauze technique and osteoplastic approach. AFS treatment consists of surgical extirpation of the allergic mucin and polyps with maintenance of adequate sinus drainage followed by medical therapy consists of topical steroids, anti fungal therapy, Immunotherapy, and systemic corticosteroids. Treatment of invasive fungal sinusitis includes surgical resection of necrotic tissues, systemic antifungal therapy and reversal of immune dysfunction.

Management of Fungal Rhinosinusitis – A Retrospective Study from a Tertiary Hospital in Kerala

BACKGROUND Fungal rhinosinusitis (FRS) is an increasingly common pathology in chronic rhinosinusitis and is often diagnosed late. The present study intended at analysing and understanding the clinical, pathological, microbiological, radiological characteristics of the disease in a tertiary hospital in Kerala. METHODS Case records of patients with pathologic or microbiologic diagnosis of FRS were retrospectively studied from January 2015 to January 2021, with reference to their demography, clinical presentation, comorbidities, and imaging features. The treatment aspects were also studied. RESULTS A total of 36 patients with pathological or microbiologic evidence of FRS were studied. There were 58 % cases of allergic FRS, 33 % cases of fungal ball and 8.3 % cases of invasive FRS. 58 % of patients were females, 77 % patients had nasal block as their presenting symptom, and 66 % of patients had duration of symptoms between 1-6 months. In radiological imaging, the maxillary sinus was most commonly involved. Treatment was always surgical removal. Allergic FRS (AFRS) needed prolonged topical steroids and invasive FRS needed systemic antifungals. CONCLUSIONS Our study suggests the importance of early diagnosis of FRS in all chronic rhinosinusitis patients by a high index of clinical suspicion. Tissue samples from the nose and sinuses should be studied for pathology and microbiology in all suspected cases to reach a diagnosis. Radiological imaging can aid in concluding diagnosis. Surgical options, supported by medical management play a vital role in the effective management of the disease. KEY WORDS Fungal rhinosinusitis, Allergic fungal rhinosinusitis, Fungal ball, Invasive fungal rhinosinusitis

Analysis of Microbiota and Mycobiota in Fungal Ball Rhinosinusitis: Specific Interaction between Aspergillus fumigatus and Haemophilus influenza?

Fungal ball (FB) rhinosinusitis (RS) is the main type of non-invasive fungal RS. Despite positive direct examination (DE) of biopsies, culture remains negative in more than 60% of cases. The aim of the study was to evaluate the performance/efficacy of targeted metagenomics (TM) to analyze microbiota and mycobiota in FB and find microbial associations. Forty-five sinus biopsies from patients who underwent surgery for chronic RS were included. After DE and culture, DNA was extracted, then fungal ITS1–ITS2 and bacterial V3–V4 16S rDNA loci were sequenced (MiSeqTM Illumina). Operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were defined via QIIME and assigned to SILVA (16S) and UNITE (ITS) databases. Statistical analyses were performed using SHAMAN. Thirty-eight patients had FB and seven had non-fungal rhinosinusitis (NFRS). DE and culture of FB were positive for fungi in 97.3 and 31.6% of patients, respectively. TM analysis of the 38 FB yielded more than one fungal genus in 100% of cases, with Aspergillus in 89.5% (34/38). Haemophilus was over-represented in FB with >1000 reads/sample in 47.3% (18/38) compared to NFRS (p < 0.001). TM allowed fungal identification in biopsies with negative culture. Haemophilus was associated with FB. Pathogenesis could result from fungi–bacteria interactions in a mixed biofilm-like structure.