[Allergic fungal sinusitis: diagnostic, therapeutic and prognostic evaluation]

Allergic Fungal Sinusitis (AFS) is a benign noninvasive sinus disease related to hypersensitivity to fungal antigen. The incidence of the disease has been estimated to be 4-7% of patients requiring surgery for chronic sinusitis. AFS is characterized by high levels of IgE in the atopic patient's serum, and the presence of allergic mucin that contains eosinophils and fungal components. The treatment of AFS entails endoscopic sinus surgery, combined with pre- and post-operative systemic and local steroid treatment. This article summarizes the clinical course of 11 patients treated in our department for AFS between the years 1996 and 2002 and followed-up for more than twelve months. We review the characteristics of AFS, the diagnostic criteria, the treatment protocol and the prognostic outcome in these patients.