BACKGROUND: Sphenoid sinus aspergillosis is a rare disease known to show an aggressive course with high mortality. Early diagnosis, though difficult, is required to prevent lethal fungal meningoencephalitis. CASE REPORT: We describe two cases of parasellar Aspergillus granuloma extending from the sphenoid sinus clinically indistinguishable from intracranial neoplasms. In the first patient, the fungus colony was visualized by computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as a calcified concretion and total removal was curative. In the second patient, partial removal and subsequent antifungal therapy had minimal effect. CONCLUSIONS: The prognosis of the patients with this disease depends on prompt surgical treatment before intradural invasion occurs, and CT and MRI are useful diagnostic maneuvers for detecting calcified Aspergillus colonies.
BACKGROUND:Sphenoid sinus aspergillosis is a rare disease known to show an aggressive course with high mortality. Early diagnosis, though difficult, is required to prevent lethal fungal meningoencephalitis. CASE REPORT: We describe two cases of parasellar Aspergillus granuloma extending from the sphenoid sinus clinically indistinguishable from intracranial neoplasms. In the first patient, the fungus colony was visualized by computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as a calcified concretion and total removal was curative. In the second patient, partial removal and subsequent antifungal therapy had minimal effect. CONCLUSIONS: The prognosis of the patients with this disease depends on prompt surgical treatment before intradural invasion occurs, and CT and MRI are useful diagnostic maneuvers for detecting calcified Aspergillus colonies.