Importance of immediate surgical intervention and antifungal treatment for rhinocerebral mucormycosis: a case report

Rhinocerebral mucormycosis (RCM) is an opportunistic, potentially life-threatening fungal disease. This infective disease invades not only the facial sinuses, but also the maxilla, zygoma, and rhino-cerebral structures with a massive destruction of the facial skeletons and soft tissue. This disease progresses within various underlying diseases, such as diabetes mellitus, hematologic malignancy, renal failure, and systemic immunodepression. The relationship between mucormycosis and these underlying conditions have been discussed extensively in the literature. The authors studied 6 cases of RCM diagnosed by a tissue biopsy and treated at the department of oral and maxillofacial surgery, from 1997 to 2012. Patients were treated with several kinds of surgical interventions and antifungal agents, and their clinical & radiological signs, underlying conditions, surgical methods, and outcomes were analyzed.