Nasosinus aspergillosis in Sudanese patients: clinical features, pathology, diagnosis, and treatment

The objective of this study was a prospective analysis of the clinical features, pathology, diagnosis, and treatment of patients treated between 1993 and 1996 for nasosinus aspergillosis in the Sudan.

Clinical examinations and laboratory tests for serologic, mycologic, and histologic analysis were conducted on all patients, as were radiologic and computerized tomographic studies when external swelling of any of the paranasal sinuses was evident.

The age group 11 to 50 years were predominantly affected, with a peak in those aged 21 to 30 years. Females were affected more often than were males. The clinical features were mainly nasal polyposis, external swelling of the ethmoid sinus medial to the inner canthus, or maxillary cheek swelling and/or proptosis. In the paranasal sinuses, the ethmoids were the most frequently affected. Intracranial extension of the disease occurred in two patients. Serologic examinations and mycological cultures showed more incidence of positive results than did histopathology. Aspergillus flavus was grown in all the positive mycologic cultures except one, where Aspergillus niger was grown. The treatment was mainly surgical, supplemented by an antifungal drug (itraconazole). The incidence of recurrence was 9.3%, and it was noticed that the recurrence occurred in those patients who were not taking their medicines regularly.

Nasosinus aspergillosis is a common disease in Sudan. Nasal polyposis is the commonest mode of clinical presentation. Serology and mycologic cultures are quite helpful in the diagnosis. Surgical and medical treatment are complementary of each other.