title: Fatal rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis in a healthy individual.
abstract: Rhino-orbital-cerebral zygomycosis is a potentially lethal, opportunistic, fungal infection with protean manifestations, rapid progression, unpredictable course and high mortality. It is associated with angioinvasion and infarction, usually observed in diabetic ketoacidosis, immuno-compromised states and rarely reported in an apparently normal host. We present a case of an18-year-old patient with a chronic, painful, non healing ulcer with necrotic margins over the right side of the face which extended to both orbits involving eyes within a period of 1.5 month. Later he developed severe headache, decreased vision, inability to speak, seizures and status epilepticus with fatal outcome. Awareness of its occurrence in normal patients with prompt diagnosis and appropriate management may improve the outcome and decrease mortality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Panineeya Institute of Dental Sciences and Research Center, Kamala Nagar, Dilsukhnagar, Hyderabad, India.
authors.forename: Rama Krishna
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Angali
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Osmania Medical College, Koti, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Anunayi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jeshtadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Osmania Medical College, Koti, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Vivek Anand
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Namala
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Panineeya Institute of Dental Sciences and Research Center, Kamala Nagar, Dilsukhnagar, Hyderabad, India.
authors.forename: Ashalata
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gannepalli
keywords: Angiotrophic fungus; chronic sinusitis; rhino-orbito-cerebral zygomycosis