Fungi are frequent saprophytic invaders of the human body. Occasionally they become parasitic and produce definite pathologic processes. Almost every organ in the body has been invaded by pathogenic fungi, and in this respect the accessory nasal sinuses are no exception. Although the condition is rare, enough cases of mycotic infection of the nasal sinuses have been reported to establish it as a definite clinical entity.
The earliest cases on record are those of Hernu1 and Plaignaud,2 who in 1791 made the diagnosis of fungous infection of the maxillary sinus from the gross appearance of the disease.
Zarniko3 in 1891 reported the first case of aspergillosis of the sinuses. The chief symptoms were those of chronic suppurative sinusitis with occlusion of the nose. The organism was determined by microscopic examination to be Aspergillus fumigatus.
In 1893 Mackenzie4 described a case of aspergillus invasion of the maxillary sinus. The symptoms were