Objective: To investigate the clinical and pathological features of rhinocerebral mucormycosis.
Methods: The clinical data of three cases of mucormycosis were collected and analyzed. Pathological examination was conducted by autopsy or biopsy.
Results: All the three cases of mucormycosis had diabetic ketoacidosis. The early symptoms were fever, periocular and temporal headache. Gradually, orbital apex syndrome, periocular skin cellulitis and necrosis developed. Examination of nose revealed black necrotic turbinates. Meningeal signs and hemiplegia may also occur. Frontal hemorrhagic infarction was seen in pathology. A large amount of mucor fungi were found in the mucosa of nasal sinuses necrotic brain tissue under microscope.
Conclusions: Rhinocerebral mucormycosis is a rare complication which was mainly seen in patients with diabetic ketoacidosis. The lesion invaded nose, eyes and brain with a high mortality.