Role of fungal species in the etiology of nasal polyposis

Abstract

Introduction: To investigate fungal species in nasal polyps (NP) by microscopy, fungal culture, fungal DNA isolation, and sequencing. Methods: Twenty-four patients who applied to our outpatient clinic with complaints of chronic sinusitis and were found to have bilateral NP on clinical examination were included in our study. A control group was formed from 20 patients without NP who underwent septoplasty and endoscopic concha bullosa resection in our clinic. Samples from the participants were subjected to the same microbiological evaluations and the two groups were compared. Results: The mean age of the patients included in our study was 38.14 +/- 14.13 years (range from: 17 to 80). Nine of the participants were female and 35 were male. Direct microscopy and fungal culture positivity rates did not significantly differ between the groups (p>0.05). A significant (p<0.05) lower rate of microorganisms was detected in tissue cultures obtained from the nasal polyp group. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques were unable to identify the fungal species in any of the positive fungal cultures. By sequencing, fungal species emerged at similar rates in both groups (p>0.05). Conclusion: We concluded that fungal colonization is not more frequent in patients with NP than in the normal population. We did not observe the superiority of PCR-based sequencing over conventional fungal isolation techniques. However, larger series using molecular methods are needed.