A fatal rhino-cerebral zygomycosis in a young woman with latent diabetes mellitus and cerebral blood vessel agenesis

Med Mycol. 2010 Mar;48(2):394-7. doi: 10.1080/13693780903148361.

Abstract

Rhino-cerebral zygomycosis (RCZ) is an acute rapidly progressive fungal infection usually occurring in patients with diabetes mellitus and ketoacidosis. Patients typically complain of pain located in the facial, nasal or orbital regions, followed by sudden blindness and cranial nerve palsy. Early diagnosis, correction of risk factors, prompt surgical removal and aggressive antifungal therapy are warranted as life-saving treatments. The following report describes a case of a lethal RCZ which occurred in an apparently healthy woman with latent non-decompensated diabetes mellitus and a fetal-type posterior (FTP) circle of Willis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Blindness / etiology
  • Brain Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Brain Diseases / microbiology
  • Brain Diseases / pathology
  • Circle of Willis / abnormalities*
  • Diabetes Complications / microbiology*
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Angiography
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Middle Aged
  • Nose Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Nose Diseases / microbiology
  • Nose Diseases / pathology
  • Risk Factors
  • Zygomycosis / diagnosis*
  • Zygomycosis / microbiology
  • Zygomycosis / pathology