European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

MUCORMYCOSIS OF THE LEFT MAXILLA: A CASE REPORT AND REVIEW

Dr. Daya K. Jangam*, Dr. Surabhi S. Ausare, Dr. Pranjali S. Bende and Dr. Kedarnath K. Kalyanpur

ABSTRACT

Mucormycosis, also known as zygomycosis and phycomycosis was first described by Paultauf in 1885. Mucormycosis is an emerging angioinvasive infection caused by the ubiquitous filamentous fungi of the Mucorales order of the class of Zygomycetes. Mucormycosis is a fungal infection commonly affecting structures in the head and neck, such as the air sinuses, orbits, and the brain. The most common genera isolated are Rhizopus, Rhizomucor, Absidia and Apophysomyces. Rhizopus is the predominant pathogen, accounting for 90% of the cases of rhinocerebral mucormycosis. The incidence of this disease is 0.4- 1.7 cases /1,000,000. There are at least six clinical entities of mucormycosis: rhinocerebral, pulmonary, cutaneous, gastrointestinal, central nervous system (CNS), disseminated and miscellaneous like bone or kidney. The term rhinocerebral mucormycosis (RCM) should only be used if the facial, palatal, orbital, paranasal sinus or cerebral regions are involved and the patients generally present with signs and symptoms that may be primarily located in these regions Common predisposing factors include diabetes mellitus and immunosuppression. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment can significantly reduce the mortality and morbidity of this lethal fungal infection. Here we report a case of mucormycosis of the left maxilla, affecting a male patient aged 42 years , with extensive soft tissue necrosis and bone destruction.

Keywords: Mucormycosis, Angioinvasive, Rhinocerebral, Palate, Paranasal Sinuses.