Rhinocerebral mucormycosis: diagnosis and treatment. Report of two cases

Rhinocerebral mucormycosis (phycomycetes), a human fungal disease with oral and perioral findings, has an extremely high morbidity and mortality. The disease is most frequently seen in patients with poorly controlled diabetes. The symptoms, findings, and treatment of rhinocerebral mucormycosis are discussed, and two case histories are presented.

Pulmonary mucormycosis with massive fatal hemoptysis

Abrupt, massive, and fatal hemoptysis occurred in two patients with pulmonary mucormycosis. One patient had uucontrolled diabetes mellitus and the other acute leukemia in remission. Pulmonary artery erosion by mucormycotic hyphae caused the hemorrhage cases. Mucormycosis is an unusual cause of massive hemoptysis.

Rhinocerebral mucormycosis

Nine cases of rhinocerebral mucormycosis are reviewed. Eight patients had diabetes and 7 had symptoms related to the orbit. Roentgen analysis of focal bone destruction and uniform mucosal thickening will frequently suggest the diagnosis. Mucormycosis should be suspected in the diabetic patient with destruction of the walls of the bony sinuses, especially when multiple sinus involvement suggests an etiology other than neoplasm.