A Study on the Involvement of Facial Bones in Mucormycosis Patients.

Abstract

To study the involvement of various facial bones in mucormycosis patients. 50 Mucormycosis patients were included in the study after getting their consent from a tertiary care center in Chennai. 50 mucormycosis patients were included from a tertiary care centre in Tamilnadu.The details regarding their symptoms-onset, duration and progression, associated comorbidities were noted.The involvement of various facial bones were assessed by CT paranasal sinuses/CT facial bones and MRI brain with orbit with contrast. Among the study population, the nasal cavity and maxillary sinuses were affected first. In patients who are presenting late, this infection spreads to the base of skull through blood vessels and presents as rhino-orbito-cerebral form.Patients presenting late had high chances of bony erosion.Maxillary osteomyelitis and necrosis has been observed commonly.22 patients had facial bone involvement in this study and they needed thorough wound debridement with removal of the necrosed bone. Mucormycosis is often accompanied by a poor prognosis and a high mortality rate. Hence, aggressive surgical intervention with antifungal therapy is usually necessary. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment can reduce the mortality and morbidity of this lethal fungal infection.