Korean J Clin Microbiol.  2010 Jun;13(2):98-101. 10.5145/KJCM.2010.13.2.98.

A Case of Allergic Fungal Sinusitis due to Curvularia

• Chung HS
• Lee JH
• Kim HY
• Lee NY

• KMID: 1461651
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5145/KJCM.2010.13.2.98

Abstract

Allergic fungal sinusitis (AFS) is a noninvasive form of fungal rhinosinusitis resulting from an IgE-mediated hypersensitivity reaction. The diagnosis of AFS can be established by demonstrating type I hypersensitivity, presence of fungus in mucus, eosinophilic mucin, nasal polyposis, and characteristic CT scans. Although AFS is not unusual and its incidence may be increasing, few cases have been reported in Korea. Here, we report the first case of typical AFS in which Curvularia species was isolated by culture.

Keyword

Allergic fungal sinusitis; Curvularia species

MeSH Terms

Eosinophils
Fungi
Hypersensitivity, Immediate
Incidence
Korea
Mucins
Mucus
Sinusitis
Mucins

Figure

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  Fig. 1. Endoscopic finding of right nasal cavity shows polypoid mucosa and nasal septum deviation.

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  Fig. 2. Coronal CT shows right nasal polyp with ipsilateral expansile sinusitis containing high attenuation material, which suggests allergic fungal sinusitis with associated polypoid mucocele.

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  Fig. 3. Typical allergic mucin demonstrating Charcot-Leyden crystals and many eosinophils.

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  Fig. 4. The colonies growing on Sabouraud's dextrose agar, 25°C, 5 days (A) front and (B) reverse. Curvularia species appear as shiny velvety-black, fluffy growth on the colony surface. Microscopic examinations of conidia (lactophenol cotton blue stain; ×400) (C) Curvularia species is distinguished by septate, dematiaceous hyphae producing brown, geniculate conidiophores.

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