Clinical features and diagnosis

Abstract

Invasive fungal sinusitis can be diagnosed early only if the primary clinician treating the patient, whether an ENT surgeon, a chemotherapist, an oncologist or a paediatrician, has a high index of clinical suspicion. In addition, there should be both microbiological as well as histopathological evidence for further defi nitive management. An analysis of tissue invasion and host immunological response is an important step in the evaluation of the patient. The clinical features of the disease vary depending upon the acuity of the fungal infection. While acute invasive fungal sinusitis is a rapidly progressing infection, chronic invasive and granulomatous are indolent and progress insidiously over several months to years.