Allergic fungal sinusitis caused by<i>Bipolaris spicifera</i>and<i>Schizophyllum commune</i>

Abstract

There have been very few reports in Japan of patients with allergic fungal sinusitis (AFS). We describe two cases caused by Bipolaris spicifera and Schizophyllum commune. The patients were a 70-year-old male (Case 1) and a 55-year-old female (Case 2). Both presented with nasal obstruction and purulent nasal discharge. CT scans revealed each to have a soft tissue mass extending from the ethmoid sinus to the sphenoid sinus. In addition, pathological studies on the contents of the paranasal sinuses of both patients revealed the presence of fungal elements in the allergic mucin. Microbiological studies resulted in the recovery of Bipolaris spicifera from Case 1 and Schizophyllum commune from Case 2. To date there have been no reports of AFS due to these two fungi in Japan. It is very important in the diagnosis of AFS to demonstrate the presence of fungal elements in the allergic mucin. Squash cytology of the paranasal sinus contents was especially useful for proving the presence of fungi.