Granulomatous invasive fungal sinusitis

Last revised by Rohit Sharma on 23 May 2023

Granulomatous invasive fungal sinusitis, sometimes termed granulomatous invasive fungal rhinosinusitis, is a form of invasive fungal sinusitis. Reports describing the imaging findings have been uncommon 1.

It is rare and has been mainly reported in North Africa, Middle East and Asia, it is rarely seen in the Western world 2,6.

Granulomatous invasive fungal rhinosinusitis has been reported to affect both immunocompromised as well as immunocompetent

This disease presents with a focal expanding granulomatous mass arising from the sinonasal region, locally aggressive, destroying adjacent structures.

Clinical presentation is mainly due to the mass effect, with possible nasal obstruction or proptosis. If there is intracranial invasion, it tends to have scarce symptoms due to the slow growth. The disease often presents late, at advanced stages, due to the initial paucity of symptoms.

Granulomatous invasive fungal rhinosinusitis is usually confirmed on the basis of clinical and histopathologic findings where there is non-caseating granuloma formation and fibrosis. It is usually caused by Aspergillus flavus.

Affected individuals are generally immunocompetent (unlike other forms of invasive sinusitis, which affect mainly immunocompromised individuals).

Imaging shows a large expansive mass with bone destruction and invasion of adjacent structures including orbits, nasal cavity and cranial base.

CT optimally demonstrates the degree of bone destruction. The mass is typically intrinsically hyperdense, with homogeneous contrast enhancement.

MRI demonstrates the same intense pattern of intense, homogeneous enhancement. The most salient MRI finding is a characteristic T2 hypointensity, along with peripheral foci of susceptibility, due to the deposition of paramagnetic elements. DWI may show a “T2-blackout” effect secondary to the marked T2 hypodensity, which may limit the value of diffusion sequences. Often described are foci of enhancing parenchyma representing cerebritis, in the region of the brain immediately adjacent to the solid lesion 3,4.

There is scarce evidence regarding optimal management and follow up in the literature. However, generally initial conservative surgical excision of the mass is generally indicated, followed by medical treatment with antifungal agents (itraconazole/voriconazole), which appear to decrease the degree of disease relapse.

Prognosis is generally good, especially if there is no intracranial invasion.

Post-surgical relapse is common, especially if antifungal therapy is not established 5.

It may be difficult to differentiate from a malignant lesion invading into paranasal sinuses, orbital soft tissues, infratemporal fossa and/or skull base 1:

  • sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma: often similar in appearance should always be considered in sinonasal malignancy

  • sinonasal adenoid cystic carcinoma: mostly affects maxillary sinus and nasal cavity; very high propensity for perineural tumour spread

  • sinonasal adenocarcinoma: more aggressive, heterogeneous enhancement pattern; classically described in wood-workers (intestinal subtype)

  • sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma (SNUC): mostly affects ethmoid and nasal cavity; early nodal metastases

  • sinonasal lymphoma: mainly affects paranasal sinuses and simulates benignity, with frequent bone remodelling more than destruction; homogeneous contrast-enhancement with homogeneous diffusion restriction, with scarce or no necrosis, are characteristic

  • sinonasal melanoma: mainly affects the inferior nasal fossa; lesions are characteristically hypervascular and haemorrhagic; can sometimes simulate benignancy, with frequent bone remodelling instead of destruction; if the tumour is the melanotic subtype, they can have a slight characteristic T1 hyperintensity

  • esthesioneuroblastoma: centred on the cribriform plate, with characteristic dumbbell shape affecting ethmoid sinuses inferiorly and invading anterior cranial fossa superiorly; often show adjacent bone hyperostosis, bone remodelling and nasal cavity expansion; intracranial tumour-margins often show characteristic peripheral T2-hyperintense cysts

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