Rhinocerebral Mucormycosis: A Review of 32 Cases in Mosul

The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effectiveness of an oral systemic antifungal (fluconazol) with nasal antifungal wash and aggressive surgical debridement in the treatment of rhinocerebral mucormycosis. In a prospective hospital-based study, we reviewed the management of 32 patients with rhinocerebral mucormycosis in Mosul General Hospital and Al-Rahma Hospital (Mosul, Iraq), over a period of 7 years (January 1995 to December 2001). Diabetes mellitus was the main underlying cause in our patients and the main causative agent was Mucor sp. The mortality rate was 56.2%.

The management of patients with rhinocerebral mucormycosis by an oral antifungal (fluconazol) with nasal antifungal wash by a mixture of clotrimazol and 20% sodium bicarbonate solution, and aggressive surgical debridement after the control of the underlying disease, seems to be effective.