Rhinocerebral Mucormycosis: A Series of Six cases in Gorgan

Mucormycosis is a progressive and invasive fungal infection that commonly affects structures in the head and neck, such as sinuses, orbits, and the brain. This infection occurs in immunocompromised patients and is rarely seen in healthy individuals. Correct diagnosis of the disease is often difficult and its mortality rate is 30% -69%. In this study, the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment methods and prognosis of six patients with rhinocerebral mucormycosis are described. The cases were three females and three males whose mean age was 43 years. Among the cases four had diabetes, one had aplastic anemia, and one person had iron deficiency anemia. Pathology was positive in three patients. Finally, four patients survived with treatments including surgery and medication, but two individuals died. Those two did not consent to have surgery. Rapid diagnosis could increase the chance of survival, therefore, fungal opportunistic infections should be taken into account in immunocompromised patients with respiratory mucosal infections.