1996 Volume 39 Issue 2 Pages 163-167
Paranasal aspergillosis is a potentially progressive continuum of disease, classically described as having four stages: allergic, non-invasive, invasive, and fulminant. We report a very rare case of aspergilloma of the maxillary sinus progression with intracranial and orbital extension in a 76-year-old man.
He had a history of left maxillotomy and showed histological evidence of tissue invasion by aspergillus one year earlier. He had complaints of left exophthalmus and double vision for 2 months prior to consultation. Roentgenographic examinations revealed tumor-like shadow in the middle part of the left orbit continuing to the maxillary sinus, Fossa temporalis and nasopharynx. He was treated with a combination of surgery via an extranasal approach and anti-fungal chemotherapy. However, one month postoperatively, aspergillosis became invasive with cerebral extension.
We emphasize that not only sphenoid aspergillosis but also maxillary aspergillosis, such as this case, can be a more aggressive disease and may be fatal.
