Rhino-orbital mucormycosis: report of a successfully treated patient

ABSTRACT

A patient with diabetic ketoacidosis and rhino-orbital mucormycosis is presented. The clinical diagnosis of mucormycosis was made within 24 hours after the onset of symptoms, and therapy consisted of intravenous amphotericin B, surgical debridement and correction of diabetes mellitus. Direct microscopic examination of the black brownish crust obtained from her nasal passage and sinus material as well as their histology revealed no mycelium but culture of the same materials obtained separately revealed mucorales species mycelia. Early diagnosis and prompt institution of therapy contributed to this patient's survival despite complete visual loss in the involved eye. We believe that radical orbital treatment must be performed only in extensive and progressive forms of orbital mucormycosis, without insisting on blindness as an adequate criteria for performing orbital exenteration or enucleation