ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical characteristics of patients with complications of isolated fungal sphenoiditis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The records of patients diagnosed with isolated fungal sphenoiditis at Songklanagarind Hospital from January 2004 to December 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. Data related to demographics, clinical presentation, underlying disease, type of complication, surgical procedure, and clinical outcome were collected. RESULTS: Among the 35 participating patients, complications were found at a rate of 40%. The most common complication was visual loss (71.43%). We also compared the clinical characteristics between patients with and without complications via univariate analysis. The enrolled patients consisted of 12 men and 23 women (1:2). The mean age was older in the complications group 64 (41-84) vs. 57.43 (36-81) years, respectively. Underlying diabetes mellitus and complete opacity of the sphenoid sinus were factors that related significantly to the occurrence of complications. After treatment, 35.72% of the participants made a complete recovery; underlying diabetes mellitus was associated with a poor prognosis. CONCLUSION: This report indicates that practitioners must be careful of complications arising in elderly and female patients with isolated fungal sphenoiditis, who have a complete opacity of the sphenoid sinus and underlying diabetes mellitus.
