Rhinocerebral mucormycosis: the disease spectrum in 27 patients

The variable forms of clinical complaints, findings and time interval of presentation in 27 cases of mucormycosis have been described, which were encountered over a span of 8 years. The previous concept about this fungal infection attacking chronic, debilitated, immunocompromised patients does not appear to hold true. Seven of the 27 patients (22.2%) did not reveal any predisposing factors and their outcome of 42.9% survival seems to be poorer than the total outcome (66.7%). 'Chronic form' of disease presentation, the definition of which is still not delineated, was encountered in four patients (14.8%). Again, the outcome was not significantly different from the total survival. Burr-hole tap of an intracranial abscess revealing mucor in a 2-month-old infant has been described. Even in the present era, extranasal exenteration of sinuses along with disfiguring orbital exenteration is required to ensure satisfactory surgical debridement. Control of the underlying predisposing illness, along with the aggressive surgical debridement and the parenteral administration of amphotericin B, remains the treatment essentials even today.