Abstract

Rhinocerebral mucormycosis(RM) is a rare opportunistic fungal infection that mainly occurs in immunocompromised or diabetic patients, but rarely in healthy indi-viduals. This fungal infection usually begins at the nose and progresses through the paranasal sinuses, and secondarily invading the orbit and central nervous system. Because of its rapid progression and high mortality, early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to increase the patient survival rate. A combination of ampho-tericin B administration and surgery is a standard repertoire of RM treatment. Herein, a case in which a 69-year-old male patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus, presentings as RM, is reported. This patient had never been diagnosed with diabetes mellitus until the diabetes and RM were identified by us using the oral glucose tolerance test, measurement of the glycated hemoglobin level and a paranasal sinus CT scan. The RM was further confirmed by a biopsy of an oral mucosal ulcerative lesion. This case suggests that RM can present in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients.

• Keywords: Rhinocerebral mucormycosis(RM);Type 2 diabetes mellitus;