Poliposi e micosi rinosinusale: patologie croniche sempre più frequenti

Nasal polyps are benign semitransparent nasal lesions that arise from the mucosa of the nasal cavity or from one or more of the paranasal sinuses. The pathogenesis of nasal polyposis is unknown. Most theories consider polyps to be the ulti- mate manifestation of chronic inflammation. Nasal polyps occur in all races and social classes; the overall incidence in children is 0,1%, among adults, the incidence is 1-4% overall, with a male-to-female ratio of 2-4:1. In the last years, there was an increase of mycotic sinusitis due to an improvement of diagnostic assay and to different factors such as antibiotic and immunosuppressive therapies, as well as general and local immunologic deficit or favoring pathologies. Mycotic sinusitis are distinct in noninvasive forms, composed by mycetoma (fungus ball) and allergic fungal sinu- sitis, and invasive forms, composed by acute invasive fungal sinusitis, chronic indolent invasive fungal sinusitis, and chronic granulomatous invasive fungal sinusitis. To make a correct diagnosis of rhinosinusal polyposis and mycosis history, examination physical, imaging studies of the maxillofacial area and histological examination are very important. Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) is a surgical technique that today is more often used for these pathologies.