Nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, nasopharynx
Infectious lesions
Invasive fungal sinusitis
Author: Nat Pernick, M.D.
Last author update: 1 November 2004
Last staff update: 6 October 2020
Copyright: 2004-2023, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.
PubMed Search: Invasive fungal sinusitis nasal
Table of Contents
Definition / general | Case reports | Microscopic (histologic) description | Microscopic (histologic) images | Board review style question #1 | Board review style answer #1Cite this page: Pernick N. Invasive fungal sinusitis. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/nasalmucor.html. Accessed April 1st, 2023.
Definition / general
- Relatively common life threatening fungal infection, associated with diabetic ketoacidosis, poor glycemic control or immunosuppression
- Spreads rapidly across nerves and tissue planes to blood vessels of orbit and brain, causes thrombosis, hemorrhage and infarction
- Member of phylum Zygomycota, class Zygomycetes, order Mucorales; found in high organic matter and soil
- Mortality rate of 48%
Case reports
- 26 year old man with refractory AML and sinus pain (Case of the Month #493)
- 29 year old man post bone marrow transplant with psychosis and gingival lesion (Arch Pathol Lab Med 2000;124:883)
Microscopic (histologic) description
- Broad nonseptate hyphae branching at 90 degrees, accompanied by numerous neutrophils and histiocytes within granulation tissue
Microscopic (histologic) images
Contributed by Kelly Magliocca, D.D.S., M.P.H. (Case of the Month #493)
Tissue necrosis
Necrotic and
adjacent viable
sinonasal mucosa
Ossified cartilage
and adjacent viable
sinonasal mucosa
Angiovasion, 20x
Angiovasion, 40x
Grocott's methenamine silver stain
Board review style question #1
Which of the following anatomic sites is most commonly involved in acute invasive fungal sinusitis?
- Nasal septum
- Inferior turbinate
- Ethmoid sinus
- Middle turbinate
Board review style answer #1
D. The middle turbinate is most commonly involved among the anatomic sites listed.
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Reference: Invasive fungal sinusitis
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Reference: Invasive fungal sinusitis
