Sinus fungal balls: characteristics and management in patients with host factors for invasive infection.

Background: The characteristics of sinus fungal ball (SFB), classically considered being a non-invasive form of fungal infection, in patients with host factors for invasive fungal infection (IFI) are unknown.

Objective: To characterize SFB and their management in patients with host factors for IFI.

Methodology: Retrospective single-centre study of the clinical, radiology, histology and mycology records of patients treated for SFB between 1997 and 2007.

Degradation of fungal DNA in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded sinus fungal balls hampers reliable sequence-based identification of fungi.

Identification of the etiologic agent responsible for sinus fungal ball (SFB) is rarely obtained due to either the culture of patient specimens not being ordered or if cultures were inoculated they proved to be negative. Obviously, this has a significant impact on the design of appropriate therapeutic strategies. We investigated whether paraffin-embedded (PE) tissues, the only materials often available, were suitable for the correct identification of the responsible fungi.

[Subperiostal orbital hemorrhage induced by effort for vomiting].

Unlabelled: Subperiostal orbital hemorrhage is a rare condition. It usually occurs as a result of trauma or because of a vascular disorder. We present a case of subperiostal orbital hemorrhage induced by effort for vomiting.