Orbital apex syndrome secondary to a fungal nasal septal abscess caused by Scedosporium apiospermum in a patient with uncontrolled diabetes: a case report

Nasal septal abscess is a rare complication, and is defined as collection of purulent material between the cartilaginous or bony septum and the mucoperichondrium or mucoperiosteum [1]. The most common organism responsible for nasal septal abscess is Staphylococcus aureus, followed by Streptococcus pneumoniae and S. viridans [1, 2]. Fungal septal abscess is rare. Scedosporium apiospermum is a ubiquitous filamentous fungus that is present in soil, sewage, and polluted waters [3]. To date, there has been only one report on nasal septal abscess caused by S. apiospermum [4], and one report on orbital apex syndrome caused by S. apiospermum [5]. Here we report an extremely rare case of orbital apex syndrome secondary to fungal septal abscess caused by S. apiospermum in a patient with uncontrolled diabetes.

A 59-year-old man with a 1-month history of headache was examined in an otolaryngological clinic of a general hospital. The patient’s anterior nasal septum was swollen, and he was diagnosed with nasal septal abscess and admitted to the hospital the same day. Enhanced computed tomography (CT) revealed a swollen, ring-enhanced lesion in the anterior nasal septum (Fig. 1). He was treated with incisional drainage of the abscess and antibiotic drip for 1 month (fosfomycin, ampicillin/sulbactam, ceftriaxone, and meropenem). In addition, insulin-based therapy was started because the patient had uncontrolled diabetes and hemoglobin A1c of 13.3%. His symptoms persisted despite 1 month of antibiotic drip. Pus from the nasal septum was cultured three times. Culture tests detected low concentrations of Capnocytophaga spp. and Serratia marcescens, which were sensitive to the antibiotic drip. No fungi were detected. The septal lesion was biopsied twice and showed granulation-like tissue with infiltrated inflammatory cells (nothing indicating malignancy or fungus). Despite the antibiotic drip for >1 month, diplopia developed due to bilateral abducens nerve palsy, with subsequent impairment of right eye movement and eventual visual loss. The patient was then referred to our department.

The patient’s initial visit revealed a saddle nose. Nasal fiberscope revealed bulging of the nasal septum and granulation-like tissue on the right side of the nasal septum. The patient’s left eye fixed at the central position and the supraduction and adduction of the right eye were limited. His visual acuities were light perception in the right eye and “count fingers” in the left eye. The functions of the 5th, 7th, and 8–12th cranial nerves were intact.

The patient’s hemoglobin A1c was 9.2%. Plain CT showed a poorly marginated lesion with soft tissue density at the superior nasal septum, which was invading the anterior cranial fossa. Another mass with soft tissue density appeared in the left maxillary sinus (Fig. 2). A spinal tap and cerebrospinal fluid culture were immediately performed, and the results revealed elevated glucose levels (130 mg/dL) and cell counts (mononucleosis 19/m³, polynucleosis 1/m³). No pathogen was detected by microscopic examination or culture methods. Owing to the possibility of a fungal and/or bacterial infection, we prescribed an antibiotic (ampicillin/sulbactam) and antifungal (amphotericin B) drip. Subsequently, we performed diagnostic endoscopic sinus surgery under general anesthesia. Histopathological examination revealed that the ball-like lesion in the left maxillary sinus harbored fungi, with filaments slightly thinner than those of Aspergillus spp. (Fig. 3). A commercially available fungal DNA detection kit (Robust HotStart ReadyMix PCR Kit; KAPA biosystems, Inc., U.S.A.) was used to detect pathogens in tissues from the nasal septal lesion and ball-like fungal lesion in the left maxillary sinus. A broad-range polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed targeting the highly conserved sequence of the ribosomal RNA genes in fungal DNA shared by most fungi. Internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions in ribosomal DNA were then amplified by PCR using primers ITS1F (5′-TCCGTAGGTGAACCTGCGG-3′) and ITS4R (5′-TCCTCCGCTTATTGATATGC-3′). PCR products of 150–500 bp were obtained and sequenced to match a known DNA sequence from a reference database (BLAST: Basic Local Alignment Search Tool). The organism detected by PCR and tissue cultures was S. apiospermum. Subsequent enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed strongly enhanced lesions of the nasal septum, ethmoid sinuses, bilateral orbital apexes, and cavernous sinus. The dura along the anterior and bilateral middle cranial fossa was thickened and well-enhanced. (Fig. 4). The diagnosis was orbital apex syndrome and hypertrophic pachymeningitis secondary to fungal nasal septal abscess caused by S. apiospermum.

Drug susceptibility testing (Table 1) led us to change the antifungal drip to voriconazole (500 mg/day). Since voriconazole had no apparent effect on the patient’s symptoms after four days, we surgically resected the lesion under general anesthesia.

Using endoscopy-assisted open skull base surgery, we removed the fungal ball-like lesion and the mucosa of the left maxillary sinus. We then incised the anterior border of the nasal septum and removed the mucosa of the bilateral ethmoid and sphenoid sinuses. After anterior craniotomy, we resected the anterior skull base between both sides of the ethmoid tegmen, from the frontal table anteriorly to the optic chiasm posteriorly. We avoided the extirpation of the eye ball or removal of the orbital content, because the medial bony wall of the orbit was intact.

The resected nasal septum was thickened and necrotic, strongly suggesting infectious inflammation and necrosis of the tissue. Mild mucosal edema was observed in the bilateral ethmoid and sphenoid sinuses. No fungal invasion or pus was observed. The dura was thinned just above the affected part of the cranial fossa, suggesting that the infection and inflammation had spread to the dura; however, there was no apparent dural deficit, and the dura was preserved. Following resection, we reconstructed the affected anterior cranial fossa with pericranium.

The patient’s headache decreased and almost disappeared 3 weeks postoperatively. His preoperative mild fever and inflammation normalized, and he was discharged on postoperative day 29. The patient continued oral voriconazole (400 mg/day) until 12 months post-surgery, when bilateral ocular movements completely improved; however, loss of visual acuity persisted. At 22 months post-surgery, a follow-up MRI demonstrated that the enhanced lesion in the orbital apex diminished. Thirty months has passed without any evidence of recurrence until now. The timeline of the patient’s illness is illustrated in Fig. 5.

Nasal septal abscess is curable without life-threatening complications, if it is promptly diagnosed and appropriately treated. However, late diagnosis and treatment is associated with serious complications, such as meningitis [6], intracranial sinus venous thrombosis [7], or even death [8]. Early diagnosis and immediate therapy is important to avoid a cosmetic nasal deformity or intracranial infection [9]. Serious complications of nasal septal abscesses may occur, especially in immunosuppressed patients [10]. In our case, despite several cultures and biopsies, the causative agent had not been identified. Approximately 2 months elapsed before S. apiospermum was identified as the causative agent. Owing to this delay, infectious inflammation from the abscess had spread superiorly, resulting in orbital apex syndrome. Although the patient survived because of treatment with an antifungal drip and a surgical procedure, he lost sight in both eyes.

The most common organism responsible for nasal sepal abscess is S. aureus [1]. Others include S. pneumoniae, S. viridans, S. epidermidis, and Haemophilus influenzae [11, 12]. Although fungi rarely cause nasal septal abscess, its possibility should be considered, especially in immunocompromised patients.

S. apiospermum is a ubiquitous filamentous fungus that is present in soil, sewage, and polluted water [3]. The common clinical manifestations of S. apiospermum infection are mycetomas, involving cutaneous and subcutaneous tissues, fascia, joints, and bones; opportunistic infections in immunocompromised patients; and non-opportunistic pulmonary infection, especially in patients with respiratory compromise, such as cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [3].

Disseminated S. apiospermum infection, which carries a poor prognosis, is usually observed in immunocompromised patients, although it has also been reported in immunocompetent patients [3]. Reports of serious infections caused by this fungus are increasing [3]. Sinusitis caused by S. apiospermum may appear in immunocompetent or immunocompromised patients [3].

Previously, S. apiospermum was reported to cause nasal septal abscess in only one case [4]. Thus, our patient is only the second reported case with nasal septal abscess caused by S. apiospermum. In the first case, the patient was treated with oral steroids for uncontrolled asthma, whereas our patient had uncontrolled diabetes. In both cases, the patients were immunocompromised, which is considered to be a major factor for developing S. apiospermum infection. In addition, our patient is only the second reported case of S. apiospermum-related orbital apex syndrome. The first case was that of orbital apex syndrome secondary to sphenoidal sinus mycetoma caused by Pseudallescheria boydii in a 92-year-old immunocompetent patient [5]. Therefore, S. apiospermum should be considered to be a causative agent of infections in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients.

Treatment of infections caused by Scedosporium spp. is especially challenging because of their resistance to antifungal drugs [3]. Most S. apiospermum fungi are resistant to amphotericin B, caspofungin, anidulafungin, isavuconazole, and itraconazole [13]. Among “azoles,” voriconazole and posaconazole demonstrate the highest in vitro activity, and micafungin is the most active echinocandin antifungal drug [13]. Surgical excision of lesions has been a part of the standard care of patients with S. apiospermum infection, and should be considered whenever possible, even among immunocompetent patients [3]. When treating a nasal septal abscess, serious complications could be prevented by prompt, effective surgery [14]. In the present case, along with the antifungal drugs, the surgical treatment was vital because the nasal septal abscess had worsened and was already leading to the development of orbital apex syndrome when the patient was first examined by us. During surgery, we removed the infected tissue, including the necrotic nasal septum, inflammatory sinus mucosa, and the bone in the anterior cranial fossa. The orbit and inflammatory dura were preserved. Since orbital apex syndrome was diagnosed and intraorbital spread of inflammation was suspected, we considered exenteration of the orbit to be necessary. We preserved the orbit’s content but removed the bony wall on the optic chiasm which appeared necrotic. During surgical treatment of acute, invasive fungal sinusitis, the decision to proceed with orbital exenteration should be carefully considered because it may not favor the patient’s overall chance for survival [15].