Acute Fulminant Fungal Sinusitis in Patients with Acute Leukemia

Background: acute fulminant fungal sinusitis is a rapidly progressive disease with high mortality (50-80%) and occurringwith increasing frequency in patients with acute leukemia. the purpose of the present study was early diagnosis of this lethalinfection.methods: in a cross-sectional study, 142 patients with hematological malignancies were studied immediately by initiationof chemotherapy to determine early clinical and radiological findings of invasive fungal sinusitis. this infection was confirmedby pathological and mycological methods.results: acute fulminant fungal sinusitis was diagnosed in 8 patients with acute leukemia. the most common isolated fungiwas aspergillus flavus (n= 5) followed by aspergillus fumigatus (n= 2) and rhizopus sp. (n= 1). despite prompt surgicaland medical therapy, the disease in our patients was very aggressive with a rapid clinical course and high mortality.conclusion: the present report shows the poor prognosis of invasive fungal sinusitis in neutropenic patients; the necessityto take intensive preventive measures and the application of new diagnostic methods for early detection of fungal infectionin these high risk patients.