Abstract: Objective Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) is an exquisitely sensitive assay that can detect the DNA of fungal elements. The aim of this study was to compare the sensitivity of conventional culture and techniques using PCR. Methods The samples of secretion were collected from 18 patients diagnosed as fungal sinusitis clinically and 20 cases of control group with chronic sinusitis. Fungal-specific PCR analysis and standard culture were performed on every sample. χ² analysis was used to test for statistical differences between the two groups. Results ITSPCR analysis detected fungal DNA in fourteen(78%) patients with chronic fungal sinusitis and eight cases in control group while the positive results of standard cultures were 44%, respectively. Conclusion ITS PCR is more rapid and more sensitive technique than nasal swab culture in detecting the fungi in sinus secretion. The study suggested that it is an effective method in diagnosis of fungal sinusitis.

Key words: fungal sinusitis, fungi, PCR