Rhino-orbital Mucormycosis in a Diabetic Non-COVID-19 Patient: A Case Report
Abstract
Mucormycosis is an opportunistic infection that primarily affects persons with weakened immune
systems. It is a rare fungal infection produced by mucormycetes, a type of mould. For the past 5 days,
a 61-year-old diabetic male has suffered from severe diffuse sudden onset headaches, left-sided face
pain, left eye edema and difficulty opening the left eye, impaired vision in the left eye, low-grade
temperature, and decreased taste sensitivity. SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) was undetectable. An MRI
brain scan revealed bilateral orbital infiltration, patchymeningeal enhancement, pansinusitis
changes, and inflammatory fat stranding in the left orbital cavity. Histopathology was done on tissue
from the left posterior aetiology. Histopathological analysis of tissue from the left posterior ethmoidal
sinus revealed invasive fungal sinusitis. Under the microscope, several enlarged fungal hyphae,
granulation tissue, and bone fragments were found. The patient was successfully treated with prompt
endoscopic surgical debridement, dual IV antifungals, and amphotericin B nasal lavage. This case
was reported in order to alert people that mucormycosis is an opportunistic infection with a high
morbidity and fatality rate, and that no one should ignore it.
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.37628/ijgn.v4i2.2000
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