Adir Cohen1, Fady Louis Shoukair2, Maya Korem3, Adir Shaulov4, Nardy Casap5. 1. Attending, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hebrew University-Hadassah, Jerusalem, Israel. 2. Resident, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hebrew University-Hadassah, Jerusalem, Israel. Electronic address: fady@hadassah.org.il. 3. Attending, Department of Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University-Hadassah, Jerusalem, Israel. 4. Attending, Department of Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University-Hadassah, Jerusalem, Israel. 5. Head, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hebrew University-Hadassah, Jerusalem, Israel.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Mucormycosis is a rare opportunistic and aggressive deep fungal infection that predominantly affects immunocompromised patients, and its mortality rate has been reported as up to 80%. Typing of the infection is based mainly on clinical and anatomic presentations, with the most common being the rhinocerebral type. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This report presents 3 patients with cancer who had successful treatment of mandibular mucormycosis. Chemotherapy was administered 13 to 30 days before diagnosis of the infection, resulting in neutropenia in all patients. Each case is thoroughly presented from initial admission through its diagnosis and treatment sequence. RESULTS: Early surgical ablative treatment and antifungal treatment resulted in the resolution of infection in all patients. Absolute neutrophil count increased 7 to 8 days after surgical debridement. CONCLUSIONS: Bringing patients to the post-neutropenic state tremendously increases their odds for survival.
PURPOSE:Mucormycosis is a rare opportunistic and aggressive deep fungal infection that predominantly affects immunocompromised patients, and its mortality rate has been reported as up to 80%. Typing of the infection is based mainly on clinical and anatomic presentations, with the most common being the rhinocerebral type. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This report presents 3 patients with cancer who had successful treatment of mandibular mucormycosis. Chemotherapy was administered 13 to 30 days before diagnosis of the infection, resulting in neutropenia in all patients. Each case is thoroughly presented from initial admission through its diagnosis and treatment sequence. RESULTS: Early surgical ablative treatment and antifungal treatment resulted in the resolution of infection in all patients. Absolute neutrophil count increased 7 to 8 days after surgical debridement. CONCLUSIONS: Bringing patients to the post-neutropenic state tremendously increases their odds for survival.