Rhinocerebral Mucormycosis: A Prospective Analysis of an Effective Treatment Protocol

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to prospectively analyze the effectiveness of a treatment protocol in patients diagnosed with rhinocerebral mucormycosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This series included ten patients who reported with suspicious clinical signs of mucormycosis. The diagnosis was established by histopathology, and computed tomography imaging was used to assess the extent of spread. All patients were treated with immediate radical surgical debridement and antifungal chemotherapy with amphotericin B. Simultaneous correction of the underlying immunosuppressive condition was carried out. The primary outcome assessed was disease-free survival, and the patients were followed up for up to 6 months after discharge. RESULTS: In this series, the cause of immunosuppression was uncontrolled diabetes mellitus in all patients. All the patients responded to the treatment protocol and were free of the disease up to 6 months of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Mucormycosis is an invasive and potentially fatal disease. Prognosis can be improved by early recognition and prompt treatment with aggressive resection, intravenous amphotericin B, and control of the patient's underlying systemic condition.