Imaging in Rhino-Orbital Mucormycosis

Abstract

BACKGROUNDMucormycosis is an invasive opportunistic fungal infection, which is a rapidly progressive debilitating disease. Early diagnosis and prompt management is vital in improving the prognosis. Aims and Objectives-To study the radiological features of rhino-orbital mucormycosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS29 patients with histologically proven rhino-orbital mucormycosis who came to Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital and Madras Medical College from June 2016 to December 2017. A prospective observational study of the radiological evaluation was done for all the patients and the results were analysed. RESULTSMaxillary sinus was involved in all the patients with involvement of ethmoid, sphenoid and frontal in decreasing order. The pterygopalatine fossa was involved in 23/29 patients including all the orbital (except 2) and all the intracranial cases. Minimal bony erosion was present in 6 cases. Orbit was involved in 20 patients and intracranial spread was present in 11 patients. CONCLUSIONPterygopalatine fossa is involved in 79% of the cases and serves as a conduit for spread of the infection to the surrounding areas. Hence, clearance of this area may serve as a key to prevention of spread of the disease to other areas.