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Maxillary sinusitis caused by Pleurophomopsis lignicola
A A Padhye1, R W Gutekunst, D J Smith
1Division of Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Public Health Service, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA.
Journal of Clinical Microbiology
|August 1, 1997
Summary
A rare fungal sinusitis case in an immunocompetent man involved Pleurophomopsis lignicola, a fungus typically found on plants. This discovery highlights a new cause of fungal sinusitis.
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Infectious Diseases
- Otolaryngology
Background:
- Sinusitis can have various causes, including fungal infections.
- Fungal sinusitis is often associated with immunocompromised individuals or specific fungal genera.
Observation:
- An immunocompetent 59-year-old man presented with chronic sinusitis symptoms.
- Nasal examination revealed a polypoid obstruction with bloody drainage.
- Computed tomography showed maxillary sinus opacification.
Findings:
- Surgical removal of a fungus ball from the sinonasal cavity.
- Microscopic examination revealed a fungus ball composed of brown-pigmented, septate hyphae.
- The isolated fungus, Pleurophomopsis lignicola, was identified via culture and pycnidia formation.
Implications:
- This is the first documented case of Pleurophomopsis lignicola causing sinusitis in an immunocompetent patient.
- Expands the known clinical spectrum of Pleurophomopsis lignicola.
- Suggests plant-associated fungi as potential pathogens in sinonasal infections.