[Rhinocerebral mucormycosis in four diabetics].
Mucormycosis is caused by a zygomycetes fungus in a vascular location. This fungus is a saprophytic organism which can become pathogenic in specific conditions, particularly in patients with diabetes mellitus. A rhinocerebral localization is common, leading to often fatal devastating sinusitis. Positive diagnosis requires histological proof with characteristic hyphal tissue invasion. Frozen section is essential for diagnosis and management of rhinocerebral mucormycosis.


METHODS
We report four cases of rhinocerebral mucormycosis in diabetic patients, two men and two women, mean age 51 years.


RESULTS
Histological examination showed characteristic hyphae in a vascular localization. Treatment was systemic antifungal therapy with amphotericin B and debridement of necrotic tissue. Three patients recovered completely. One died.


CONCLUSIONS
Rhinocerebral mucormycosis is a rare fungal infection with very poor prognosis. The aim of this study was to report the clinical and pathological features of rhinocerebral mucormycosis and to evaluate the contribution of frozen section for diagnosis and management.
Ferchichi
L
L
Service d'Anatomie et de Cytologie Pathologiques, Hôpital Habib Thameur, 8 Rue Ali Ben Ayed Montfleury, 1008 Tunis, Tunisie.
Chadli-Debbiche
A
A
Koubâa
W
W
Khayat
O
O
Labbène
N
N
Ben Gamra
O
O
Khedim
A
A
Ben Ayed
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D002559:Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea; D003646:Debridement; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009091:Mucormycosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D009668:Nose Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*
D000935:Antifungal Agents