Abstract
Rhinocerebral mucormycosis is an uncommon, but rapidly progressive, fungal infection of the nose and sinuses that plagues diabetics and other immunocompromised patients. Its invasion results in fulminating disease that often runs its course within days. The organisms are inhaled and deposited in the nasal and pharyngeal mucosa. In the appropriate host, invasion occurs rapidly, leading to involvement of the paranasal sinuses with subsequent spread into the orbit and cranial cavity. Mucormycosis is the most acutely fatal fungal infection known (1). Survival depends on prompt diagnosis and the aggressive institution of appropriate therapies (1, 2). A diagnosis of mucormycosis must be suspected in immunocompromised patients presenting with sinusitis, especially if there has been a slow or minimal clinical response to antibiotics.
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© 1996 Springer Science+Business Media New York
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Kendall, K.A., Senders, C.W. (1996). Rhinocerebral Mucormycosis. In: Gershwin, M.E., Incaudo, G.A. (eds) Diseases of the Sinuses. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-0225-7_17
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-0225-7_17
Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ
Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-6670-9
Online ISBN: 978-1-4612-0225-7
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