Risk factors for palatal and orbital involvement in mucormycosis epidemic–Report of a center in India

BACKGROUND: Mucormycosis of the nose and paranasal sinuses has emerged as an epidemic following COVID-19 pandemic. The management involves surgical debridement, the extent of which depends on the bulk of the disease. Extension to the orbit and palate depends on the involvement of specific sites in the nose and paranasal sinuses. This study intended to identify those sites. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a single-center case-control study. There were 3 groups according to the region involved (Palate, orbit and both). The fourth group with neither involvement was the control. Scoring system was used to estimate the bulk of disease according to the site involved in MRI scan. Odds ratio and chi-square tests were used to study risk and association respectively. ROC curve was obtained for the MRI scores of the cases and controls. RESULTS: 214 patients were studied in all; 44.39% and 61.68% had palate and orbit involvement, respectively. Maxillary sinus roof had significant association and the highest risk for spread of disease into the palate. The risk for the orbit to be involved was increased when there was disease in the cavernous and sphenoid sinus. For the orbit, the site with the significant association was the ethmoid sinus, infratemporal fossa and roof of the maxillary sinus. CONCLUSION: Due attention should be given for clearance during surgical debridement to the high-risk sites to prevent recurrences and reduce morbidity and mortality. MRI scores were most helpful to identify the bulk of disease when both palate and orbit were involved.