Rhino-Orbito-Cerebral Mucormycosis Complicated as Facial Paralysis and Ophthalmoplegia without Rhinologic Manifestation / 대한이비인후과학회지

ABSTRACT

Rhinocerebral mucormycosis is a type of opportunistic infections, which can often be lethal in immunocompromised patients. The infection usually occurs in the nose and can spread to adjacent structures. The most typical symptom is facial pain, followed by headache, fever and bloody tinged rhinorrhea. We experienced three cases of rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis, which showed atypical initial presentations. In our cases, patients visited hospital for unilateral ophthlamoplegia and facial palsy without having any nasal symptoms. After evaluating neurologic and ophthalmic problems, they were referred to the Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery Department for confirming nasal invasions. Despite using early a parenteral antifungal agent with immediate surgical debridement, patients died due to a residual cerebral lesions and multiple organ failure. In this article, we present the prognosis and management of rhinocerebral mucormycosis patients with atypical symptoms, as well as a review of the published literatures.