%0 Journal Article
%T Fulminant Mucormycosis Involving Paranasal Sinuses: A Rare Case Report
%A Komali Garlapati
%A Sunanda Chavva
%A Rahul Marshal Vaddeswarupu
%A Jyotsna Surampudi
%J Case Reports in Dentistry
%D 2014
%I Hindawi Publishing Corporation
%R 10.1155/2014/465919
%X Mucormycosis is an opportunistic fulminant fungal infection, which has the ability to cause significant morbidity and frequently mortality in the susceptible patient. Common predisposing factors include diabetes mellitus and immunosuppression. The infection begins in the nose and paranasal sinuses due to inhalation of fungal spores. The fungus invades the arteries leading to thrombosis that subsequently causes necrosis of the tissue. The infection can spread to orbital and intracranial structures either by direct invasion or through the blood vessels. Here we describe a case of mucormycosis of maxillary antrum extending to ethmoidal and frontal sinus and also causing necrosis of left maxilla in an uncontrolled diabetic individual to emphasize early diagnosis and treatment of this fatal fungal infection. 1. Introduction Mucormycosis (phycomycosis, zygomycosis) is a rare opportunistic infection caused by fungi belonging to the Mucorales order and the Mucoraceae family [1]. Mucormycosis was first described by Paultauf in 1885 [1]. It is recognized as one of the most rapidly progressive lethal form of fungal infection in human beings with a high mortality of 70¨C100% [2]. The most commonly reported form of the disease is rhinocerebral mucormycosis, which is characterized by progressive fungal invasion of the hard palate, paranasal sinuses, orbit, and brain [3]. It can be subdivided into rhinomaxillary and rhino-oculocerebral forms, the latter being characterized by a high mortality rate [1]. The conditions predisposing to mucormycosis are diabetes mellitus, malnutrition, haematological malignancies, neutropenia, burns, surgical procedures, occlusive dressings, antibiotics, long-term steroid therapy, and immunosuppressive therapy [2]. Successful management of this fulminant infection requires early recognition of the disease and aggressive medical and surgical interventions to prevent the high morbidity and mortality associated with the disease process [3]. We report a case of mucormycosis causing maxillary necrosis with involvement of left side maxillary, ethmoidal, and frontal sinuses. 2. Case Report A 40-year-old female patient presented with dull pain and purulent discharge in left posterior maxillary teeth region since 6 months following the extraction of teeth (24, 25, 26, 27, and 28). She presents history of dull aching pain with intermittent extra oral swelling over left maxilla and numbness of left side of upper lip. Patient had visited general physician with facial cellulitis 6 months ago and was diagnosed with uncontrolled type II diabetes mellitus
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/crid/2014/465919/