SCHIZOPHYLLUM-COMMUNE SINUSITIS - A CASE-REPORT AND RADIOLOGIC FINDINGS

Chronic sinusitis is now considered the most common chronic disease se en in this country.(1) The infections are commonly polymicrobial and i nclude aerobes and anaerobes.(2) Fungal sinusitis accounts for up to 1 0% of cases of chronic sinusitis, and the disease ranges from allergic fungal sinusitis through fungus balls to invasive fungal sinus diseas e.(3,4) We report the case of a 19-year-old black female with nasal ob struction, clear rhinorrhea, and nasal polyps. She underwent endoscopi c sinus surgery after medical management failed to eradicate her sympt oms. Cultures from her paranasal sinuses grew S. commune, a mushroom, a member of the Basidiomycetes. There have been four prior reports of S. commune sinusitis described in the literature. Presented is a revie w of the literature, a description of the histologic, mycologic, and r adiologic findings and suggested treatment. The magnetic resonance ima ging (MRI) findings are presented here for the first time.