Abstract
Background: Invasive fungal infection is an opportunistic infection caused commonly
by mucoraccae and aspergillus. It mostly occurs in patients with underlying disease.
Since it has a high mortality and morbidity rate, considering a treatment strategy seems
necessary.
Objective: Since there has not been a clear protocol for treating these patients, we decided
to establish a protocol for fungal infection of sinus and anterior skull base management.
Methods: This retrospective and descriptive case study series included 30 patients.
After confirming the pathogen, the authors came to a proper protocol for treatment which
is mentioned later.
Results: The site involvement included nose and orbital cavity (53.3%), anterior skull
base and brain in conjunction with sinonasal (36.6%) and simple nasal cavity involvement
(10%). 86.6% of the patients had underlying diseases. 56.6% of patients had diabetes
as a single underlying disease, while 13.3% had both diabetes and renal failure in
combination. Acute lymphocytic leukemia was present in 6.6%, renal failure in 3.3%, lupus
in 3.3% and chronic lymphocytic leukemia in 3.3% of patients. Mortality rate was
40%. We categorized the patients into 3 groups: only sinonasal, sinonasal and orbit, and
associated anterior skull base and brain involvement.
Conclusion: Early diagnosis is an important factor in improving survival. Anterior
skull base and brain involvement has a very poor prognosis.
