Evaluation of the Imaging Characteristics of Rhino-Orbital Cerebral Mucormycosis.

Background: Mucormycosis is a fungal infection with diverse clinical manifestations, the most common of which, i.e., the classical form of rhino-orbital cerebral mucormycosis (ROCM), has had a significant prevalence among patients recovered from COVID-19. We aimed to investigate the findings of ROCM imaging recorded at Imam Khomeini Hospital in Ahvaz, Iran, in 2022.

Methods: This retrospective study reviewed the files of patients definitively diagnosed with mucormycosis and COVID-19. Imaging procedures performed on patients included non-contrast CT scans (CT imaging protocol: from vertex to mandible without contrast for evaluating sinus contents, bone erosion, osteomyelitis, pre-sinus or orbital invasion). Key imaging findings were assessed and documented, and findings were evaluated.

Results: The mean age of subjects was 53.11 ± 14 years, with the majority being male (55.3%). All subjects had nasal and sinus involvement, but their brains were unaffected. Approximately 36% of subjects had ocular involvement. In imaging findings, left pterygopalatine involvement had the highest prevalence (27.7%), while left extraocular muscle involvement had the lowest prevalence (4.3%). Patients with lamina papyracea and extraocular muscle involvement all had ocular involvement, which was statistically significant. Additionally, those with hard palate erosion had significantly higher ocular involvement rates (5 out of 6 cases with hard palate erosion).

Conclusion: Rhino-orbital cerebral mucormycosis is associated with nasal and sinus involvement, and diabetes and male gender are predisposing factors to this disease. CT, as a complement to other clinical evaluations, dramatically aids in diagnosing and identifying the extent and complications of the disease.