Mucormycosis in a patient with sarcoidosis.

Abstract

Mucormycosis is a rare complication of sarcoidosis. We report only the third instance of mucormycosis occurring in a patient with sarcoidosis. Corticosteroid therapy, even short courses of less than one month duration, appears to be a major risk factor for the development of mucormycosis. Mucormycosis should be suspected upon the development of signs and symptoms of chronic sinusitis, necrotic nasal discharge, proptosis or periorbital edema. Mucormycosis is confirmed on routine hematoxylin and eosin stains by the identification of tissue invasion by the broad, aseptate mucor fungi. Prompt identification of the infection is essential to reduce morbidity and prevent mortality.