[Immunohistochemical diagnosis of fungus ball in paranasal sinuses].

OBJECTIVE

To study the pathogens of fungus balls in paranasal sinuses and establish an immunohistochemical test by which the main opportunistic fungi could be identified.

METHODS

Twenty-five patients with fungal balls were treated by surgical removal of the fungus ball in the infected sinuses. The pathogenic fungi on the specimens were identified by means of routine PAS and immunohistochemical staining methods, and the sensitivity of the two methods were compared.

RESULTS

The most commonly infected sinus was the maxillary sinus, followed by sphenoid sinus. Pathogens of fungal balls were found to be aspergillus (92%, 23/25) and candida 2 cases (8%). Aspergillus and candida albicans in infected sinuses could be specifically identified by immunostainning. There was no statistically significant differences of sensitivity between immunostainning and PAS stain.

CONCLUSIONS

The main pathogen of the fungus ball was aspergillus. Immunostainning was a rapid and reliable method to identify fungi in infected tissues of paranasal sinuses. It should be widely used in the diagnosis of fungal sinusitis.