Endonasal endoscopic surgery with combined middle and inferior meatal antrostomies for fungal maxillary sinusitis.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the combination of inferior and middle meatal antrostomies for treatment of a maxillary sinus fungus ball by functional endoscopic sinus surgery.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis including 28 patients with non-invasive fungal maxillary sinusitis was performed. Fourteen patients underwent FESS with both middle and inferior meatal antrostomies (combined group). The remaining 14 patients were treated with FESS through only the middle meatal antrostomy (control group).

RESULTS

Post-operative computed tomography showed normal maxillary sinuses in all patients in the combined group. In contrast, in the control group, five patients (36 per cent) exhibited a normal maxillary sinus, seven (50 per cent) showed maxillary mucosal thickening and two (14 per cent) had persistent fungus balls in the maxillary sinus.

CONCLUSION

FESS with a combination of middle and inferior meatal antrostomies proved more effective for treating fungal maxillary sinusitis.