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. 2014:2014:465919.
doi: 10.1155/2014/465919. Epub 2014 Jan 9.

Fulminant mucormycosis involving paranasal sinuses: a rare case report

Komali Garlapati  1 , Sunanda Chavva  2 , Rahul Marshal Vaddeswarupu  2 , Jyotsna Surampudi  2
Affiliations

Fulminant mucormycosis involving paranasal sinuses: a rare case report

Komali Garlapati et al. Case Rep Dent. 2014.

Abstract

Mucormycosis is an opportunistic fulminant fungal infection, which has the ability to cause significant morbidity and frequently mortality in the susceptible patient. Common predisposing factors include diabetes mellitus and immunosuppression. The infection begins in the nose and paranasal sinuses due to inhalation of fungal spores. The fungus invades the arteries leading to thrombosis that subsequently causes necrosis of the tissue. The infection can spread to orbital and intracranial structures either by direct invasion or through the blood vessels. Here we describe a case of mucormycosis of maxillary antrum extending to ethmoidal and frontal sinus and also causing necrosis of left maxilla in an uncontrolled diabetic individual to emphasize early diagnosis and treatment of this fatal fungal infection.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Extraoral examination reveals swelling in the left side of the face just below the eye.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Intraoral examination reveals necrotic bone with pus discharge in relation to left maxilla (white arrow).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Orthopantomogram reveals missing teeth (24, 25, 26, 27,  and  28) with unhealed sockets.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Coronal view of CT showing involvement of left maxillary sinus, nasal conchae, and ethmoidal sinus extending up to frontal sinus.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Axial view of CT showing destruction of posterior, medial, and anterior walls of left maxillary sinus.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Histopathology of biopsied tissue showing nonseptate obtuse angled fungal hyphae and sporangiophores with spores.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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