Clinical Anatomical Characteristics of Patients with Rhino-Orbit-Cerebral Mucormycosis

Background. Postponed coronavirus infection (COVID-19), accompanied by an immunosuppressive state and associated with the risk of secondary diseases such as mucormycosis. Diabetes mellitus is an independent risk factor for both severe COVID-19 and mucormycosis.

Aims — our aim was to experience the diagnosis and treatment of rhino-orbitocerebral mucormycosis in post-COVID-19 patients.

Materials. A single-center, observational, non-randomized, cohort comparative study was conducted. We assessed the clinical features, risk factors, diagnosis and outcomes of mucormycosis among recovered COVID-19 patients with hospitalisation in the otorhinolaryngology department of the Samara State Medical University Clinics, Samara, from September–December 2021. CT examinations were performed on Revolution EVO CT scanner (GE, Russia) and MRI on Aera MR scanner 1.5 T (Siemens, Germany). Materials for microbiological and histopathological examination were taken from all examined patients intraoperatively.

Results. The experience of diagnosing and treating rhinoorbitocerebral mucormycosis in patients after a new coronavirus infection was analyzed, the influence of the complex use of radiation diagnostic methods, histopathological and microbiological methods on the development and effectiveness of mucormycosis treatment was determined.

Conclusions. The effectiveness of disease management directly depends on the early initiation of etiotropic treatment, while the role of complex radiological diagnostics, histopathological and microbiological methods is important for early confirmation of the fungal etiology of the disease.