Rhinocerebral Mucormycosis with Orosinusal Involvement: Diagnostic and Surgical Treatment Guidelines

Endocr Metab Immune Disord Drug Targets. 2016;16(4):264-269. doi: 10.2174/1871530316666161223145055.

Abstract

Background: Rhinocerebral mucormycosis is a rare, rapidly progressive and potentially lethal disease almost exclusively affecting immunocompromised hosts or patients with metabolic disorders, such as poorly controlled diabetes mellitus.

Methods: This work is aimed to describe five cases of rhinocerebral mucormycosis to review and possibly define diagnostic and surgical treatment guidelines. In all the patients, surgical debridement, systemic and local antifungal therapy, and oral rehabilitation using filling prostheses were performed.

Results: None of the patients revealed recurrence of the infection, as confirmed by radiological and clinical long term follow up.

Conclusion: Given the lethal nature of the disease, the authors underline the importance of early diagnosis and of a multidisciplinary approach in order to undertake correct surgical and medical treatments, while keeping the underlying disease under control.

Keywords: Mucorales; Zygomycetes; immunocompromised patients; rhinocerebral mucormycosis; sinusitis; surgical debridement..

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Amphotericin B / therapeutic use
  • Antibiotic Prophylaxis
  • Brain Abscess / diagnosis*
  • Brain Abscess / drug therapy
  • Brain Abscess / pathology
  • Brain Abscess / surgery*
  • Child
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infectious Encephalitis / diagnosis
  • Infectious Encephalitis / drug therapy
  • Infectious Encephalitis / pathology
  • Infectious Encephalitis / surgery
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mucormycosis / diagnosis*
  • Mucormycosis / drug therapy
  • Mucormycosis / pathology
  • Mucormycosis / surgery*
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Preoperative Care
  • Rhinitis / diagnosis*
  • Rhinitis / drug therapy
  • Rhinitis / pathology
  • Rhinitis / surgery*

Substances

  • Amphotericin B