Phaeohyphomycosis of the maxilloethmoid sinus caused by drechslera spicifera: A new fungal pathogen

Abstract

"Phaeohyphomycosis" refers to soft tissue and systemic infections caused by dematiacious septate fungi. Drechslera spicifera, a dematiacious fungus, rarely pathogenic in humans was found to cause maxilloethmoid sinus disease in two immunocompetent children. The clinical presentation was similar to noninvasive aspergillosis. Intracavitary surgical excision without adjuvant chemotherapy resulted in apparent cure. The microbiologic and clinicopathologic aspects of this mycotic sinus disease are reviewed and discussed in relation to the entire spectrum of human disease reported which has been attributed to this organism.