Rhinocerebral Mucormycosis Presented with Cranial Nerves Deficit

Saeed, Maysaa Abdallah; Attia, Tarek H; Al Ghamdi, Abdullah S

doi:10.21608/aeji.2015.17831

Rhinocerebral Mucormycosis Presented with Cranial Nerves Deficit

Document Type : Case report

Authors

¹ Tropical Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt.

² Pediatric Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt.

³ Internal Medicine Department, King Saud Medical City, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

10.21608/aeji.2015.17831

Abstract

Mucormycosis is a rare opportunistic fungal infection, associated with high mortality, characterized by infarction and necrosis of host tissue. Rhinocerebral mucormycosis (RCM) is the most common clinical variant often associated with poorly controlled diabetes mellitus. The treatment is complex and involves both antifungal and surgery. There is no formal guideline regarding the duration of antifungal, timing and extent of surgical management. We present a case of RCM in a diabetic girl who presented with a 2 weeks history of left facial and periorbital swelling associated with left facial numbness and deficit of the fifth and seventh cranial nerves. Diagnosis of RCM was confirmed by histopathological examination of tissue biopsy. She was successfully treated with liposomal amphotericin B and posaconazole, as step-down therapy, along with minimal surgical debridement. We present this case because of the rarity of RCM, calling for prompt initiation of treatment in a suspected case and to present data about therapeutic modality.

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