Rhino-Orbital Mucormycosis as a Complication of COVID-19 Pneumonia Treatment

Our aim was to discuss rhino-orbital mucormycosis developing after coronavirus disease-2019 pneumonia treatment. A 45-year-old man pre- sented with visual loss, headache, and numbness in the palate and the left mid-face. The patient had been administered methylprednisolone for coronavirus disease-2019 disease at another hospital. The head and neck examination revealed ophthalmoplegia and chemosis in the left eye and hypoesthesia in the site under the left orbit. Endoscopic nasal examination revealed a black eschar tissue on the left inferior turbinate and the middle meatus. Liposomal amphotericin B was promptly administered with a dose of 5 mg/kg with a preliminary diagnosis of mucormy- cosis. Urgent endoscopic medial maxillectomy and orbital decompression were performed. Once total visual loss was seen in the patient in the follow-up period, orbital exenteration was performed. The diagnosis of mucormycosis was made based on the histopathological examination, which revealed non-septate hyphae causing invasion in the tissues and the blood vessels. There was no growth of specific fungal microorgan- isms in the tissue cultures. The patient has been alive during the 2 months follow-up periods and no complications were observed. Patients with coronavirus disease-2019 should be closely monitored in terms of the underlying disease and mucormycosis. Corticosteroids should be administered carefully in coronavirus disease-2019 patients.

Cite this article as: Gür H, Özcan C, İsmi O, et al. Rhino-orbital mucormycosis as a complication of COVID-19 pneumonia treatment. B-ENT. 2022;18(4):295-297.