title: Rhinocerebral mucormycosis diagnosis by aspiration cytology.
abstract: Rhinocerebral mucormycosis is a rapidly progressing, often fatal fungal infection that occurs commonly in diabetics and immunocompromised individuals. We present 2 cases of rhinocerebral mucormycosis with a paranasal mass. One patient had an intracranial extension. Nasal scrapings and fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of the paranasal masses showed fungal hyphae morphologically resembling Mucor. Surgical material showed features of mucormycosis. FNAC and scrape smears can give a conclusive diagnosis of mucormycosis, and the patient can be treated with appropriate antifungal therapy and surgical debridement. Preoperative cytology is an effective technique to establish a diagnosis of mucormycosis and obviates the need for a preoperative biopsy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Government Medical College, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Deshpande
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Munshi
mesh_terms: D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D003646:Debridement; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009091:Mucormycosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D010254:Paranasal Sinus Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D012233:Rhizopus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D000666:Amphotericin B