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Introduction: One of the consequences of COVID-19 is the incidence of mucormycosis in the jaws and subsequent osteomyelitis in patients with undiagnosed or uncontrolled comorbidities, such as diabetes mellitus and associated immunosuppression. Case Report: A 52-year-old male patient with a history of COVID-19 two months ago presented a painful ulcerative lesion of insidious onset in the palatal raphe measuring approximately 2 mm. He referred to numbness of the palatal region of one month of evolution. During the physical examination, purulent content, multiple pustules in the anterior maxillary buccal mucosa, and mobility of upper anterior teeth were observed. The CT revealed isodense bilateral images in maxillary and ethmoidal sinuses, bone sequestrations, and partial loss of anterior vestibular cortical bone. Laboratory tests revealed no abnormality, except for HbH1c: 10.2gr/dl. The patient was hospitalized for control of newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus. Maxillary incisional biopsy was performed, and microscopic analysis showed a mixed inflammatory infiltrate, fibrin deposits with eosinophilic and birefringent ribbon-like hyphae, branched at right angles, compatible with maxillary osteomyelitis secondary to mucormycosis. The treatment started with antifungal and intravenous antibiotics, followed by surgical cleaning under general anesthesia. The patient progressed favorably. Conclusion(s): Immunosuppression resulting from COVID-19 and/or uncontrolled systemic diseases can condition the appearance of rare opportunistic microorganisms causing infections such as mucormycosis. Early diagnosis and treatment make a difference in the morbidity and mortality of patients.
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Sinonasal cancer accounts for roughly only 3% of upper respiratory tract malignancies and generally presents as a primary malignancy. Although extremely rare, the sinonasal cavity is also a known location for metastasis, with 8% of these cases originating from primary breast cancer. When attempting to differentiate primary disease from metastasis, immunohistochemical analyses play a crucial role in reaching the correct diagnosis. To date, there are a handful of reports describing metastasis involving the paranasal sinuses but even fewer reporting primary sinonasal cancer with coexisting primary malignancy. Here we present a case of primary sinonasal adenocarcinoma in the setting of a long-standing history of breast cancer. The patient, a 73-year-old female, was diagnosed with T1cN1aM0, progesterone receptor positive and estrogen receptor negative ductal carcinoma in situ of the left breast in November 2019. She subsequently underwent bilateral mastectomy and treated with 3 cycles of chemotherapy and anastrozole, which were both discontinued due to intolerance. Of note, in March 2019, MRI of the head incidentally found a 3 x 2 cm mass in right nasal cavity extending into ethmoid sinus. One year later, she presented with mild right sided nasal obstruction and drainage, and biopsy revealed squamous and respiratory mucosa with chronic inflammation. The patient elected to cancel initial surgical resection of the mass due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The patient returned in March 2022 with complaints of eye pressure, double vision, headaches, and worsening nasal obstruction. PET/CT scan was negative for distant metastasis but demonstrated increased uptake in sinus cavity. MRI showed a larger 5 x 3.7 cm mass impressing on medial inferior margins of orbit. Imaging also suggested evidence of dehiscence of lamina and irregular neo-osteogenesis of the skull base. She underwent approach and resection of the mass with histology demonstrating a well differentiated, low grade non-intestinal mucinous adenocarcinoma. Immunohistochemistry was positive for pankeratin and CK7, favoring a primary sinonasal origin. It was estrogen receptor negative and negative for GATA3, a sensitive and fairly specific stain in mammary carcinoma. Adjuvant radiation was recommended postoperatively, however the patient declined this therapy. This case highlights the role of immunohistochemistry to discriminate a new primary cancer from metastasis in patients with a history of breast cancer. Clinically, patients with sinonasal metastasis can present with symptoms ranging from unilateral nasal obstruction, facial pain, diplopia, and decreased vision. On imaging, suspicion of malignancy is raised when there is evidence of destruction of bony boundaries and invasion of surrounding tissues such as the orbit and anterior skull base, as found in our patient. Notably, metastasis to the paranasal sinuses can mimic a primary cancer of the nasal cavity, with both tumors showing epithelial differentiation. However, primary tumors often show neoplastic changes in the overlying respiratory epithelium and do not express estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, or HER2 positivity, which are known to be correlated with breast cancer. In this setting, GATA3 and estrogen receptor negativity allowed us to diagnose primary nasal cancer more confidently. Therefore, clinicians should be aware of metastatic disease and expand immunohistochemistry panels when appropriate.
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Introduction: There are no FDA-approved medications for the >20 million chronic rhinosinusitis patients without nasal polyps. The Exhalation Delivery System with Fluticasone (EDS-FLU) is an intranasal steroid in a device that delivers drug to regions above the inferior turbinate and behind the nasal valve. Method(s): In this phase 3, 24-week, randomized, controlled trial evaluating EDS-FLU versus EDS-placebo twice daily in chronic sinusitis without polyps, co-primary endpoints were combined symptom score (CSS;week 4) and average of percentages of CT-opacified volume across ethmoid/maxillary sinuses (APOV;week 24). Other outcomes included Quality-of-Life (SNOT-22, SF-36), Sleep (PSQI), and Patient-reported Global Impression of Change (PGIC). Result(s): Baseline scores suggest moderate-severe disease: mean CSS=6.0;APOV=62.0%. Both EDS-FLU doses [186microg (n=74) and 372microg (n=74)] significantly reduced both symptoms and sinus opacification versus EDS-placebo (n=75): CSS least-square (LS) mean change, EDS-placebo, -0.81;EDS-FLU 186microg, -1.54 (p<.05);EDS-FLU 372microg, -1.74, (p<.001);APOV LS mean change +1.19, -7.00 (p<.001), -5.14 (p<.01), respectively. EDS-FLU (n=145) vs EDS-placebo (n=75) also significantly improved secondary measures at Week 24 including SNOT-22 (LS mean -17.5 vs -8.7, p=.001);SF-36v2 (LS Mean PCS 4.9 vs 1.8, p=.002);PSQI Global score (LS mean -1.54 vs -.33;p<.001);and PGIC (60% vs 25% much/very much improved;p<.001). Adverse events (>=3% of patients and >EDS-placebo) were COVID-19, epistaxis, headache, and depression. Conclusion(s): EDS-FLU is the first and only drug to show improvement in a phase 3 trial in both symptoms and sinus opacification in chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyps. Copyright © 2022
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Objective: To verify the presence of tomographic alterations in the paranasais sinus of patients diagnosed with Covid-19 and to evaluate the presence of an association between olfactory symptoms and the involvement of these sinus. Method(s): This is an observational cross-sectional study that analyzed computed tomography of the nose and paranasal sinus (SSCT) of patients with Covid-19 regarding the presence of mucous thickening in the paranasal sinus. Patients who underwent RT-PCR examination for detection of Covid-19 (SARS-CoV-2) and TCSPN infection from March 2020 to March 2021 were included. Patients with a history of previous nasosinusal surgery, recent facial trauma, age below 18 years or with incomplete information in medical records were excluded. Result(s): A total of 65 individuals were included, of whom 28 were diagnosed with Covid-19. In tomographic analysis, an association was observed between Covid-19 infection and mucous thickening of the bilateral maxillary sinus (p = 0.038) and mucous thickening of the bilateral ethmoidal sinus (p = 0.005). No significant association was found between mucous thickening of the sphenoid and frontal sinus with virus infection. The complaint of olfactory dysfunction was reported by 20% of the patients, with no association with tomographic alterations or Covid-19 infection. Conclusion(s): Covid-19 virus infection possibly causes an injury to the mucosa of ethmoidal cells due to the inflammatory process resulting from viral infection. The lesion of the mucosa of the ethmoidal sinuses may cause alteration in the drainage physiology of the maxillary sinuses due to blockade of the middle meatal tract - site of drainage of the maxillary sinus - and lead to edema of the mucosa of this sinus. This change in the mucosa of the ethmoidal sinus may also be the cause of olfactory disorders presented by patients, as well as may cause lesions in the olfactory nerve. Keywords: Covid-19;SARS-CoV-2;Anosmia;Tomography;Paranasal sinuses. Copyright © 2022
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Introduction: The pandemic of COVID-19 in association with mucormycosis would be a deadly fungal infection with high level of mortality and morbidity. Our aim is to evaluate the surgical outcome of patients with rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis to suggest better management strategies. Method(s): A total of 62 cases of COVID-19-associated rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis were admitted to the ear, nose, throat department in Mashhad, Iran, from August 1 to October 15, 2021. All data were analyzed using SPSS version 27.0. Descriptive analysis was used for demographic and clinical characteristics. Result(s): Main predisposing conditions were diabetes mellitus (90%) followed by hypertension (41%). Main symptoms were headache (75%), periorbital or retro-orbital pain (61%), visual loss (45%), and facial numbness (41%). Mucosal and ocular findings showed necrosis (67%), blindness (n=35), ptosis (n=31), proptosis (n=27), ophthalmoplegia (n=25), and chemosis (n=20). Neurologic loss of consciousness (19%) and palsies of cranial nerves (53%) were observed. Endoscopy findings showed necrosis (70%), discharge (61%), and crusting (54%). Imaging enhancement revealed mucosal thickening (69%), opacification of sinus (69%), bony destruction of sinus (35%), and orbital involvement (25%). Debridement surgery was necessary in nearly all patients (96%), dominated by ethmoid sinus (90%), maxillary sinus (87%), middle turbinate (80%), and sphenoid sinus (79%). Based on our follow-up, 25 patients died (42%). Those who survived will suffer from no light perception (35%), cranial nerve palsy (12%), and cerebral vascular accident (1.6%). Conclusion(s): Mucormycosis is an aggressive fungal infection. Diabetes mellitus, COVID-19 complication, inappropriate use of corticosteroids, and delayed vaccination had significantly increased its incidence. As there is an urgent need to address this public health concern, we present our data set from Iran.
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Background: The COVID- 19 infections are associated with wide range of bacterial and fungal co-infections. They may be associated with various comorbidities. Definite diagnosis requires demonstration of fungi in tissue sections or in culture. Yield of organism in culture is suboptimal. Hence histopathology plays critical role in establishing the diagnosis and provide evidence of tissue invasion. Objective(s): To study the histopathological features of fungal infections in sino nasal, oral and orbital area associated with COVID-19 patients. Material(s) and Method(s): One hundred twenty cases of fungal infections involving sinonasal, oral and orbital area in laboratory confirmed COVID-19 positive patients between June-September 2021 were taken for study. Clinical data was recorded, histopathological examination was done along with periodic acid Schiff stain and culture report was obtained. Result(s): The study included 92(76.6%) males and 28(23.3%) females with age ranging from 13 to 78 years. The tissues included debridement, biopsy and excision specimen. Acute inflammation was seen in 8(6.66%) cases, chronic inflammation in 112(93.33%), granulomas in 25, thrombosis in 14, necrosis in 104, angioinvasion in 13, perineuritis in 10 and bone invasion in 18 cases. Mixed fungal infection was seen in 11cases. Conclusion(s): Histopathology remains the mainstay in diagnosis of invasive fungal infections especially when culture is negative. Copyright © 2022 Ubiquity Press. All rights reserved.
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Pandemic was new experience for entire humanity. Medical fraternity was no exception. The cases of mucormycosis were on the rise during the second wave of the pandemic. Presented here are two cases which were combination of two diseases, one of which was squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck region and other one was sinonasal mucormycosis. Both patients were diabetics and had history of Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) infection in past. Our literature search doesn't reveal any previously reported cases of this rare combination. There were certain challenges in management. Both diseases were lethal and treatment of one cannot be prioritised over other. Challenges in managing those cases were, reconstruction planning, perioperative management and postsurgery adjuvant therapy. In absence of previous experience to treat this combination or any literature available new treatment protocol were formulated. Cases were discussed in multidisciplinary team meetings and treatment plans were formulated. Mucormycosis and oral squamous cell carcinoma both were operated and reconstructed in same sitting. In one patient revision endoscopic debridement had to be done. Amphotericin B was started once diagnosis was confirmed. Patients were followed-up on weekly basis during first month and imaging was done every 15 days. Both patients had satisfactory recovery without any sign of progression of mucormycosis. Adjuvant radiation was given in both cases at appropriate time. At follow-up both patients were free from disease for six months. From these unique experiences it can be recommended that combination of sinonasal mucormycosis and squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck is very rare. Both diseases can be treated simultaneously. Excision and reconstruction can be done in single sitting. There is no need to delay or avoid adjuvant radiation. Multidisciplinary team approach is the key for treatment.
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Aim and background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia has been frequently associated with symptoms such as shortness of breath, cough, loss of sense of smell, fever, and fatigue. Patients with preexisting conditions such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, or coronary artery disease are especially susceptible to compilations arising from COVID-19 pneumonia. Patients with poorly controlled diabetes mellitus or those that are immunocompromised are at an increased risk of developing mucormycosis. Objective: To study the possible association between invasive fungal sinusitis (mucormycosis) and COVID-19. Materials and methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted at a tertiary care centre over 4 months, involving all patients with rhino orbito cerebral mucormycosis suffering from or having a history of coronavirus disease infection. Results: Seventy patients presented with mucormycosis, 65 had an association with COVID-19. The maxillary sinus and the anterior ethmoidal sinuses were the most common sinuses affected. Intra-orbital extension was seen in 30% of cases, while intracranial extension was only seen in 6%. Diabetes mellitus was present in 65 cases and was uncontrolled in 45 cases. All patients had a history of steroid use during their coronavirus treatment and 10% had tocilizumab administration. All 70 patients underwent surgical debridement, of which 21 had undergone orbital exenteration. Overall mortality was 7.6%, but with significant morbidity in survivors. Conclusion: Multiple manifestations and complications of COVID-19 are emerging as the pandemic is progressing. Mucormycosis emerged as a major health care problem with lots of morbidity and mortality, especially in the Indian subcontinent. Overzealous use of immunosuppressants along with uncontrolled diabetes was the major causative factor. Early diagnosis and early surgical debridement was the key to survival.
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Objective: To study the radiological presentations of mucormycosis in the study cohorts.The patients were categorized as COVID-19 and diabetes millitus;COVID-19 and non-Diabetes;Non COVID-19 and non-diabetes and these cohorts were analysed. Background: There has been a recent surge of mucormycosis with COVID 19 infection particularly in patients with diabetes.Multicompartmental and extrasinonasal tissue infarction is possible without overt bone involvement and caused by the dissemination of fungal elements from the nasal cavity via perineural and perivascular routes.Fungal vasculitis results in internal carotid artery occlusion and cerebral infarction.Imaging features reflect the angioinvasive behavior of the Mucoraceae family, which cause necrotizing vasculitis and thrombosis resulting in extensive tissue infarction. Design/Methods: This was a Prospective observational study of Rhinoorbitocerebral mucormycosis cases presenting from May to July 2021 to our hospital.The clinical examination findings and neuroimaging features were assessed among the study cohorts. Results: Of the 544 patients the mean age of patients was 51.9 years with a male preponderance (71%).Uncontrolled hyperglycemia was present in 90% of all patients.Ethmoid sinus was the most common paranasal sinus involved by imaging( 86%).The most common site of extrasinus involvement was orbit (76%) and face (57%), followed by orbital apex, masticator space,pterygopalatine fossa.Intracranial extension with involvement of cavernous sinus was seen in 34% of patients, brain abscess(19.2%),internal carotid artery(17%),brain infarction(45.2%),meningeal thickening and enhancement(29.2%),bone and skull base(14%).The most common neuroradiological presentation seen in all cohorts was cavernous sinus thrombosis.The propensity for multiple cerebral abscess and skull base osteomyelitis was more in patients of Rhinoorbitocerebral mucormycosis with diabetes and COVID-19 cohort.Internal carotid artery involvement was predominantly seen in COVID-19 and non diabetic cohort.Limited sinonasal disease was more commonly seen in Non-COVID-19 and diabetes patients of mucormycosis Conclusions: Central to early diagnosis is a high index of suspicion by the clinician and the radiologist.The cavernous sinus was the most common site of intracranial involvement in our study.
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ECMO has become a widely recognized support modality for patients with severe cardiac or respiratory failure, and has been increasingly utilized in the ongoing severe acute respiratory syndrome due to coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic. Long-term support on ECMO for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is also becoming more commonplace with eventual lung recovery, obviating the need for lung transplantation. However, long-term ECMO support has not been well studied for SARS-CoV-2 ARDS patients. We report the case of a 39-year-old female with severe SARS-CoV-2-induced ARDS successfully supported on venovenous ECMO (V-V ECMO) for 5,208 hours (217 days) in a high ECMO-volume, quaternary care children's hospital in 2021. At the time of this writing, this is the longest reported patient successfully supported on ECMO for SARS-CoV-2 ARDS. Our patient was initially cannulated at our children's hospital with dual-site V-V ECMO, via the right internal jugular vein (RIJ) and right common femoral vein. Bedside tracheostomy was performed on ECMO day 40, for early mobility, oral feeding, interaction, and pulmonary rehabilitation planning. Unfortunately, during her course she suffered multiple complications including bacterial co-infections, bleeding requiring anticoagulant changes from unfractionated heparin (UFH) to bivalirudin, multiple ECMO circuit changes due to blood product consumption and coagulopathy, and pneumothoraces requiring thoracostomy tube placements. Approximately 1.5 months into her ECMO course, she suffered acute hypoxemia and echocardiography revealed indirect evidence of pulmonary hypertension with right heart failure. Initial right heart catheterization while on V-V ECMO revealed elevated right ventricular end-diastolic pressure (RVEDP=15-20 mmHg) and severe systemic desaturation with main pulmonary artery (MPA) pressure of 30 mmHg. Pulmonary hypertension and right heart support was initiated in the form of inhaled nitric oxide (iNO), inotropes, phosphodiesterase inhibitors, nitrates, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, and diuresis. Ultimately, due to necessity of right-heart decompression and support, on ECMO day 86 she was transitioned to single-site V-V ECMO utilizing a 31 Fr dual-lumen venovenous cannula (ProtekDuo (LivaNova, UK)) placed via her RIJ through her right atrium (RA) into the MPA in the cardiac catheterization laboratory. Subsequent heart catheterization more than 2 months later revealed severe right ventricular (RV) diastolic dysfunction (RVEDP=35 mmHg) and moderate left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction (pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP=24 mmHg)). During her course, multiple trials off ECMO were attempted with varying lengths of time off ECMO support, but ultimately required ongoing ECMO support. She developed evidence of end-organ dysfunction from her cor pulmonale, including oliguric renal failure requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT), hepatic injury with elevated transaminases and hyperammonemia leading to depressed mental state, feeding intolerance, and coagulopathy. Additionally, due to long-term nasogastric enteral tube placement for caloric supplementation and enteral medication administration, she developed concerns for invasive sinusitis with erosion into ethmoid and maxillary sinuses. As she was an adult patient being cared for in a free-standing academic children's hospital, multiple adult medicine consultants were involved in her care. Specifically, adult nephrology, cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery (for ProtekDuo cannula placement), and gastroenterology/ hepatology were integral into her care, along with our pediatric critical care medicine and ECMO teams. Notably, this was the first patient supported on ECMO to receive tracheostomy, RA-MPA dual-lumen VV cannula, and full autonomous mobility outside of the ICU at our well-established ECMO program, which has served as the index patient leading to future advances in the care of our ECMO patients. Over time and with multiple therapies to alleviate her cor pulmonale, the patient's echocardiograms evealed improved, half-systemic right-sided cardiac pressures. She was ultimately decannulated from ECMO at our center before being transferred back to the referring adult facility, and discharged to home 8 months after her initial presentation with acute respiratory failure.
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Objective: Rhinocereberal mucormycosis is an acute, fulminant, and often lethal opportunistic infection typically affecting diabetic or immunocompromised patients. Early diagnosis is vital in these infections because delay in initiation of the treatment can be life-threatening. Computed tomography (CT) with axial and coronal sections is a highly accurate and non-invasive modality to accurately image sinonasal mycosis. The aim of the study was to describe the imaging findings in suspected cases of mucormycosis on CT. Methods: This study was conducted in Radiodiagnosis Department of Rajindra Hospital, Patiala. The data of 22 patients who were referred for CT with a clinical suspicion of mucormycosis were collected and all these patients were followed up to know about the prognosis of the disease. Results: In our study, there were 54.60% females and 45.40% males. Maximum number of patients (45.45%) belonged to 40-49 year age group. Diabetes mellitus was found to be the most commonly (90.90%) found comorbidity followed by hypertension (36.36%). In our study, involvement of unilateral nasal cavity was observed in 36.36% cases. Among the paranasal sinuses, maxillary and ethmoid sinuses were the most commonly involved in 95.45% and 77.27% cases. Conclusion: Prompt diagnosis and treatment of rhino-orbital mucormycosis are the sine qua non as antifungal drugs and surgical debridement can successfully control the infection and thus reduce the high mortality and morbidity associated with mucormycosis.
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Mucormycosis was a difficult illness to treat in the past due to a lack of diagnostic and treatment alternatives. Rhino-orbital-cerebral mucormycosis usually affects the maxillary sinus with involvementof maxillary teeth, orbits, and ethmoidal sinuses. Diabetes mellitus is an independent riskfactor for both COVID-19 as well as mucormycosis. Advances in pathology, diagnostic tools, and treatment choices are discussed here.