OBJECTIVETo discuss the clinical diagnosis and treatment of cavernous sinus syndrome caused by fungal infection of sphenoid sinus.

METHODSThe clinical manifestations, imaging examination, operation methods and complications were analyzed retrospectively in 9 patients with fungal infection of sphenoid sinus treated between January 2007 and September 2012, and the clinical experience was summarized. The treatment methods included endoscopic operation combined with antifungal drugs, and the primary disease was treated actively at the same time.

RESULTSAfter treatment, one patient with cavernous sinus thrombophlebitis had complications of ptosis, eyeball fixation and could only see the moving finger in the serious eye, while the contralateral eye regained normal vision. One patient with hypoproteinemia mucormycosis and diabetic remained blindness, eyeball fixation and ptosis in the left eye. In 3 patients, the vision was improved, but the eyeball movement was still limited. In another 3 patients, there was no significant recovery of vision, with one eye fixed in movement. The symptoms in 1 patient disappeared completely. All patients had no other systemic complications.

CONCLUSIONSCavernous sinus syndrome caused by the fungal infection of sphenoid sinus is rare. It is commonly happened in patients with systemic disease or immunocompromised patients. Early detection and parallel operation and continuous antifungal therapy can reduce the damage, but the prognosis is poor.