Rhinocerebral mucormycosis: predisposing factors, diagnosis, therapy, complications and survival.

Mucormycosis is the most acutely fatal fungal infection of the human being (5). Although relatively uncommon, its morbidity makes it an extremely important disease for the Otolaryngologist-Head and Neck Surgeon. A review of 11 cases of rhinocerebral mucormycosis (nine female and two male patients) admitted from 1961 to 1994 at Hospital das Clinicas, University of Sao Paulo was undertaken. The age range was from eight months to 49 years with a median age of 31 years. In the current study, we present and discuss the predisposing factors, the methods of diagnosis, the treatment given the complications observed and the survival of the disease. The survival rate for paranasal sinus mucormycosis in this study was 72.7% (8/11). All deaths occured within the first month after diagnosis and institution of treatment. All the patients that died presented with diabetic ketoacidosis. Hemiplegia as a neurological complication of the disease was seen in 66.6% (2/3) of the deaths. Survival analysis (Fisher Test p < 0.05) indicates that diabetic ketoacidosis and hemiplegia are negative prognostic factors in mucormycosis survival. The authors intend to add some more information to the limited literature on paranasal sinus mucormycosis.