EVALUATION OF FUNGAL SINUSITIS ON COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY AND ITS CORRELATION WITH ENDOSCOPY AND HISTOPATHOLOGY FINDINGS

Purpose: To evaluate fungal sinusitis on computed tomography and its correlation with endoscopy and histopathology findings.Methodology: A comparative cross sectional analytical study was conducted at a tertiary care in Lahore. During four months of research period 138 patients were observed. CT scan was performed routinely on 128 slice CT machine by Siemens Germany Ltd having slice thickness of 3 mm, reconstructions at 0.75 mm in coronal and sagittal planes. Scanning parameters included 190 mA , 120 KV and tube rotation time of 0.5 s. Preoperative evaluation by CT was mandatory for all patients undergoing functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS).The findings of endoscopy and histopathology were also collected in all those cases when the investigation was done. The data was then analysis by using SPSS version 25.Findings: Out of 138 patients, 63 females and 75 males were observed. 80 were affected unilaterally (58%) and 58 were affected bilaterally (42%). 111 patients showed sinus expansion (80.4%) and 84 patients showed extra sinus expansion (60.9%). 106 patients were diagnosed on CT (76.8%). All those 106 were sent for endoscopy, out of which 94 patients (68.1%) were affected on endoscopy. But the tissue cultures of 106 patients after endoscopy were sent for histopathology that confirmed 96 patients (69.6%) were affected with fungal sinusitis.Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: CT scan is very sensitive for detecting fungal sinusitis. It is a non-invasive and easily available procedure that will help in the early diagnosis on fungal sinusitis. But it is nonspecific as it does not give the confirmation about the nature of sinusitis.