IJSR International Journal of Scientific Research 2277 - 8179 Indian Society for Health and Advanced Research ijsr-7-3-14442 Original Research Paper Comparison of PCR over other techniques for diagnosis of fungal rhinosinusitis in chronic rhinosinusitis patients. Nitya Verma Dr. Dr Veerendra Verma Dr. Dr Ajay Singh Dr. March 2018 7 3 01 02 ABSTRACT

 

Fungal rhino sinusitis (FRS) is an important infection of para nasal sinuses, which encompasses two main categories; invasive and non invasive forms according to histopathological findings. Aspergillus spp are the most common species isolated. Given the importance of rapid diagnosis for fungal rhinosinusitis, this study aimed to evaluate the use of PCR for diagnosis of fungal infection in cases suspected with FRS. Seventy six patients suspected to fungal rhino sinusitis were investigated in a cross–sectional prospective study from June 2009 to Sep 2013. All patients under went endoscopic sinus surgery following CT scan. Tissue biopsies were investigated for culture, microscopy, histopathology and PCR.  In total, 76 patients were diagnosed with chronic fungal rhinosinusitis (CFR’S) over the 3 years of period of this study. Of total 43(56.58%) were male and 33 (43.42%) female. with a male to female ratio of 1.3:1. Of total 76 patients tested, 42 (55.26%) were positive by at least one of the test. All the patients/specimens were screened by all the methods and the highest positivity was found in PCR with 35.53% (n=27) positivity, followed by culture with 27.63% (n=21) positivity and KOH microscopy with 21% (n=16), while radiology and histopathology detected in 18.42% (n=14) cases.  While facial pain was directly associated with FRS. The PCR assay thus provides a rapid and reliable option for laboratory diagnosis of fungal rhinosinusitis. This study demonstrated that PCR could be complementary diagnostic techniques to detect fungi in nasal specimens from CRS patients.