Diagnostic Utility of Polymerase Chain Reaction for Paraffin-embedded Sinus Specimens for Rhinocerebral Mucormycosis Complicated by Internal Carotid Artery Thrombosis and Cerebral Infarction

We herein report a 73-year-old man who experienced cerebral infarction caused by infection with a Mucromycocetes species. A delay in anti-fungal treatment might result in a lethal clinical outcome. We were unable to establish an accurate diagnosis based on histological findings and cerebrospinal fluid culture. Therefore, we performed polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using paraffin-embedded specimens, and based on the findings, successfully started administering anti-fungal treatment. We suggest that PCR using sinus specimens be applied when mucormycosis is suspected as an etiology of cerebral infarction and a confirmative diagnosis cannot be established based on the results of pathological examinations or cerebrospinal fluid culture.