- Department of Surgery, Division of Neurosurgery, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
Correspondence Address:
Sheri K. Palejwala
Department of Surgery, Division of Neurosurgery, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
DOI:10.4103/2152-7806.182964
Copyright: © 2016 Surgical Neurology International This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 License, which allows others to remix, tweak, and build upon the work non-commercially, as long as the author is credited and the new creations are licensed under the identical terms.How to cite this article: Palejwala SK, Zangeneh TT, Goldstein SA, Lemole GM. An aggressive multidisciplinary approach reduces mortality in rhinocerebral mucormycosis. Surg Neurol Int 25-May-2016;7:61
How to cite this URL: Palejwala SK, Zangeneh TT, Goldstein SA, Lemole GM. An aggressive multidisciplinary approach reduces mortality in rhinocerebral mucormycosis. Surg Neurol Int 25-May-2016;7:61. Available from: http://surgicalneurologyint.com/surgicalint_articles/an-aggressive-multidisciplinary-approach-reduces-mortality-in-rhinocerebral-mucormycosis/
Abstract
Background:Rhinocerebral mucormycosis occurs in immunocompromised hosts with uncontrolled diabetes, solid organ transplants, and hematologic malignancies. Primary disease is in the paranasal sinuses but often progresses intracranially, via direct extension or angioinvasion. Rhinocerebral mucormycosis is rapidly fatal with a mortality rate of 85%, even when maximally treated with surgical debridement, antifungal therapy, and correction of underlying processes.
Methods:We performed a retrospective chart review of patients with rhinocerebral mucormycosis from 2011 to 2014. These patients were analyzed for symptoms, surgical and medical management, and outcome. We found four patients who were diagnosed with rhinocerebral mucormycosis. All patients underwent rapid aggressive surgical debridement and were started on antifungal therapy on the day of diagnosis. Overall, we observed a mortality rate of 50%.
Results:An early aggressive multidisciplinary approach with surgical debridement, antifungal therapy, and correction of underlying disease have been shown to improve survivability in rhinocerebral mucormycosis.
Conclusion:A multidisciplinary approach to rhinocerebral mucormycosis with otolaryngology, neurosurgery, and ophthalmology, infectious disease and medical intensivists can help reduce mortality in an otherwise largely fatal disease. Even despite these measures, outcomes remain poor, and a high index of suspicion must be maintained in at-risk populations, in order to rapidly execute a multifaceted approach.
Keywords: Invasive fungus, Mucor, rhinocerebral mucormycosis, skull base, zygomycetes
INTRODUCTION
Mucorales is a fungal order in the subphylum mucormycotina that can cause mucormycosis, a fulminant, opportunistic infection in immunocompromised human hosts.[
Patients with a lapse in natural immunity, such as diabetes mellitus, hematologic malignancy, and immune suppression after organ transplantation are predisposed to Mucor infection.[
We reviewed four cases of rhinocerebral mucormycosis treated at our institution with rapid surgical and medical multidisciplinary measures, and found an overall mortality rate of 50%, with survivors living over 18 months from the time of initial diagnosis without evidence of recurrent disease.
METHODS
We performed a retrospective chart review of the four patients with rhinocerebral mucormycosis admitted to our institution from 2011 to 2014. Their medical records were reviewed for basic demographic information, clinical presentation, exam and imaging findings, surgical procedures, medical antimicrobial therapy, and follow-up care. Due to the retrospective design of this case series, Institutional Review Board approval was not required.
RESULTS
From 2011 to 2014, four patients were admitted to the University of Arizona Medical Center with a diagnosis of rhinocerebral mucormycosis.
The patients all underwent several sinus debridements with otolaryngologists with intraoperative neurosurgical collaboration, and then subsequently were treated with amphotericin B. Half of the patients also underwent orbital exenteration of the infiltrated globe with ophthalmology. Ultimately 50% of the patients succumbed to their disease. Overall time to diagnosis was an average of 7 days. There was an average of four surgical debridements in the four patients. Both antifungal therapy and surgical debridement were launched on the day of diagnosis, and average prognosis after the presentation was approximately 51 days in the two patients who died [
DISCUSSION
Rhinocerebral mucormycosis often occurs in patients who are immunocompromised, most commonly secondary to hematologic malignancy, diabetes mellitus, or iatrogenically following organ transplantation.[
It is essential for the clinician to maintain a high index of suspicion in populations at risk, as early diagnosis can be life-saving.[
Mucor sinusitis can rapidly progress from isolated sinus involvement to direct orbital extension leading to pain, ptosis, proptosis, ophthalmoplegia, and eventual blindness.[
A review if 929 reported cases of mucormycosis showed survivability was only 3% in patients who were untreated, none of whom had the rhinocerebral variant of the disease.[
The key to management of this rapidly progressive fulminant disease is swift commencement of multidisciplinary treatments. These patients should be treated in tertiary care centers with the availability of otolaryngology, ophthalmology, neurosurgery, and infectious disease specialists so as to execute efficient and expeditious treatment. We feel that the rapid initiation of an aggressive multifaceted surgical and medical treatment regiment can confer an improved overall prognosis, and propose treating rhinocerebral mucormycosis as any other neurosurgical emergency.
CONCLUSION
Given the high morbidity and mortality of invasive rhino-orbito-cerebral fungal infections, a comprehensive and efficient multidisciplinary approach must be executed. This includes early and aggressive surgical debridement of disease in the paranasal sinuses, foramina of the skull base, and intracranial components, as well as initiation of a robust anti-fungal medical regimen with close follow-up. Despite aggressive measures, the overall mortality of rhinocerebral mucormycosis remains high, and future studies must focus on avenues of securing an early diagnosis, enacting aggressive multidisciplinary management, and pursuing new avenues of treatment.
Financial support and sponsorship
Nil.
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
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