Incidence of skull base and orbital erosion in allergic fungal rhinosinusitis (AFRS) and non-AFRS.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the incidence of bony erosion associated with allergic fungal rhinosinusitis (AFRS) with the incidence of bony erosion seen in other types of inflammatory sinusitis.

STUDY

DESIGN

Retrospective review.

RESULTS

AFRS was diagnosed in 27 patients, and 15/27 (56%) had bony skull base or orbital erosion. Non-AFRS chronic sinusitis required surgery in 158 patients, but only 8 (5%) had bony skull base or orbital erosion (P < 0.01). AFRS patients were 12.6 times (P < 0.01) more likely to have bony erosion than non-AFRS patients. African American males were 15.0 times (P < 0.01) more likely to have bony erosion than whites and African American females combined.

CONCLUSION

Bony erosion with intracranial and intraorbital extension is much more common in AFRS than all other types of inflammatory sinusitis combined. African American males have a higher incidence of AFRS, as well as intracranial and intraorbital extension.

EBM RATING: C-4.