Two Cases of Rhinocerebral Mucormycosis with Perineural Extension to the Pons

ABSTRACT

Rhinocerebral mucormycosis is a very rare, but mostly fatal fungal infection, usually found in diabetic or other immunocompromised hosts. It has a characteristic pattern of spread, invasion of vessel walls with subsequent local thrombotic infarction or direct invasion. But we found two cases contrast to these typical patterns of spread. Our cases initially originated in the nasal cavity and progressed to the cavernous sinus in usual manner, but after then, extended along the trigeminal nerve into the pons. MRI demonstrated the perineural spread, which was confirmed by pathology.