Rhinocerebral Mucormycosis in a Diabetic Patient: A Case Report with Brief Review

ABSTRACT

Mucormycosis is considered one of the most rapidlyprogressing and fulminant forms of fungal infection whichusually begins in the nose and paranasal sinuses followinginhalation of fungal spores. It is caused by organisms ofphylum Zygomycota, the subphylum Mucormycotina whichinclude genera Absidia, Mucor, Rhizomucor, Rhizopus etc. Theincidence of mucormycosis is approximately 1.7 cases per1,000,000 inhabitants per year. Mucormycosis affecting themaxilla is not rare because of rich blood vessel supply to themaxillofacial areas. Most common form of this infection is seenin the rhinomaxillary region and in patients with compromisedimmunity such as diabetes. Hence, early diagnosis of thispotentially fatal disease and prompt treatment is of primeimportance in reducing the mortality rate.