Acute Rhino-orbital-cerebral Mucormycosis in a Patient with COVID – 19

COVID-19 patients are known to have immunosuppression due to decreased lymphocytes and increased susceptibility to co-infections (Bacterial and fungal). We present a case of 61-year-old patient who had diabetes, hypertension and ischemic heart disease with COVID-19 infection admitted after RT-PCR positive result. He developed rhino-orbital Mucormycosis during treatment. He received Remdesivir with parenteral Methylprednisolone and Meropenem. While admitted in the ward, he developed signs of orbital cellulitis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain, orbits, and paranasal sinuses revealed right frontal, ethmoidal, and maxillary sinusitis with the extension of the sinisuidal disease to the orbit. A nasal biopsy revealed broad aseptate filamentous fungal hyphae suggestive of Mucormycosis. Long-term use of steroids/monoclonal antibodies/broad-spectrum antibiotics may contribute to the predisposition to fungal disease. Early diagnosis and prompt management are warranted to avoid morbidity. Key Words: Mucormycosis, COVID – 19, Orbital Cellulitis.

MUCORMYCOSIS UBIQUITOUS FUNGUS THRIVING IN IMMUNOCOMPROMISED COVID PATIENT IN PATNA

OBJECTIVE. To study various predisposition for sudden upsurge in mucormycosis in second wave of COVID To study pattern of involvement and spread of disease and to correlate clinicoradiologically METHOD: A prospective observational study was conducted at a tertiary care centre over 2months, involving all patients with mucormycosis of paranasal sinuses with history of corona virus infections and having postive KOH fungal staining on nasal biopsy. RESULT: 30 patients were studied.maxillary and ethmoid sinuses were most affected sinuses.eye involvement was seen in 83.3 percent cases while intracranial extension was seen in 13.3 percent.22 patients gives the history of steroid usage.comorbid condition Diabetes mellitus was being the most common. CONCLUSION:The association between coronavirus and mucormycosis of paranasal sinuses must be given utmost importance.uncontrolled Diabetes and overuse of steroids are main factors.

An unusual case of nasal chromoblastomycosis degenerating into squamous cell carcinoma from a nonendemic region

Chromoblastomycosis (CBM) is a granulomatous mycosis rarely described outside tropical countries. Degeneration into squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is its most serious complication. We report the first case of nasal CBM degenerating into SCC. In 2006, a sixty-year-old male presented himself with an infiltrated plaque on the right thigh. The diagnosis of CBM was confirmed by the presence of fungal elements. In 2019, the patient had developed a mass coming from the right nasal cavity. It had rapidly involved the nasal dorsum. An ulcer-budding nasal tumor and an elevated erythematous and verrucous plaque on the thigh were noted. A biopsy revealed a granulomatous dermis with fungal elements. Other nasal biopsy fragments showed differentiated SCC. A fungal culture inoculated with tissue from both lesions showed dark colonies. The diagnosis of nasal CBM with SCC degeneration was reached. The patient presented asymptomatic endonasal CBM that had slowly evolved and recently degenerated.

A case report of rhino-facial mucormycosis in a non-diabetic patient with COVID-19: a systematic review of literature and current update

Background COVID-19 disease may be associated with a wide range of bacterial and fungal infections. We report a patient with COVID-19 infection who developed rhino-facial mucormycosis during treatment with corticosteroids. Case presentation A 59-year-old non-diabetic male patient was admitted with a diagnosis of COVID-19 based on positive RT-PCR and CT of the lungs. Due to sever lung involvement, he was treated with methylprednisolone. The patient was re-admitted to hospital, due to nasal obstruction and left side facial and orbital swelling, several days after discharge. In sinus endoscopic surgery, debridement was performed and the specimens were sent to pathology and mycology laboratories. A nasal biopsy showed wide hyphae without septa. The sequenced PCR product revealed Rhizopus oryzae. Despite all medical and surgical treatment, the patient died. In addition, the characteristics of patients with COVID-19-associated mucormycosis were reviewed in 44 available literatures. In most studies, diabetes mellitus was the most common predisposing factor for mucormycosis. Conclusion Our report highlights the need for assessing the presence of mucormycosis in patients with COVID-19 and also it shows that physicians should consider the potential for secondary invasive fungal infections in COVID-19 cases.

Synovial Sarcoma of Ethmoidal Sinus

Background Synovial sarcoma is an aggressive soft tissue cancer of extremities mainly and rare in head and neck region, whereas rarest in ethmoidal sinus as only three cases have been reported till date. Case Reports We managed two cases of synovial sarcoma who presented with nasal obstruction, epistaxis, and swelling around the nasofacial region. Endoscopic nasal biopsy and immunohistochemistry markers confirmed synovial sarcoma in both the cases. While one case was managed by surgery and chemoradiation, the second patient received two cycles of ifosfamide-based chemotherapy and succumbed after 6 weeks of diagnosis. Conclusion Head and neck sarcomas are aggressive and carry a poor prognosis. Surgical resection with postoperative radiotherapy is the standard treatment. However, they have a high risk of recurrence and hence aggressive management and close follow-up is warranted for the optimal outcome.

Granulomatosis polyangitis: an otorhinolaryngological perspective

<p>Granulomatosis with polyangitis or Wegeners granulomatosis is a rare entity, however is known to have specific otorhinolaryngological manifestations. Initial clinical manifestations could be subtle but deteriorate rapidly with an underlying active autoimmune process which can be life threatening in severe subglottic stenosis. We report a case of Granulomatosis with polyangitis in an adolescent girl initially presented with otitis media refractory to treatment and epistaxis and rhinitis and eventually with the progression of disease presented with subglottic stenosis. Diagnosis was made by anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody proteinase 3 (ANCA-PR3) positive status and histological confirmation by nasal biopsy, elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and renal involvement with evidence of microalbuminuria. She underwent dilatation of the subglottic stenosis twice, with resection of the stenotic mass by coblation. The diagnostic and therapeutic challenges faced are emphasized in this report.</p>

Olfactory Dysfunction in Coronavirus Disease 2019 Patients: Observational Cohort Study and Systematic Review

Background Olfactory dysfunction (OD) has been reported in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, there are knowledge gaps about the severity, prevalence, etiology, and duration of OD in COVID-19 patients. Methods Olfactory function was assessed in all participants using questionnaires and the butanol threshold test (BTT). Patients with COVID-19 and abnormal olfaction were further evaluated using the smell identification test (SIT), sinus imaging, and nasoendoscopy. Selected patients received nasal biopsies. Systematic review was performed according to PRISMA guidelines. PubMed items from January 1, 2020 to April 23, 2020 were searched. Studies that reported clinical data on olfactory disturbances in COVID-19 patients were analyzed. Results We included 18 COVID-19 patients and 18 controls. Among COVID-19 patients, 12 of 18 (67%) reported olfactory symptoms and OD was confirmed in 6 patients by BTT and SIT. Olfactory dysfunction was the only symptom in 2 patients. Mean BTT score of patients was worse than controls (P = .004, difference in means = 1.8; 95% confidence interval, 0.6–2.9). Sinusitis and olfactory cleft obstruction were absent in most patients. Immunohistochemical analysis of nasal biopsy revealed the presence of infiltrative CD68+ macrophages harboring severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antigen in the stroma. Olfactory dysfunction persisted in 2 patients despite clinical recovery. Systematic review showed that the prevalence of olfactory disturbances in COVID-19 ranged from 5% to 98%. Most studies did not assess olfaction quantitatively. Conclusions Olfactory dysfunction is common in COVID-19 and may be the only symptom. Coronavirus disease 2019-related OD can be severe and prolonged. Mucosal infiltration by CD68+ macrophages expressing SARS-CoV-2 viral antigen may contribute to COVID-19-related OD.

Long-lasting clinical, radiological and immunological remission of severe nasal polyposis by means of ‘reboot’ surgery

A 68-year-old woman with a long history of relapsing chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) underwent a complete reboot surgery and nasal biopsy prior to and after surgery. Remarkable improvement of symptoms and no signs of mucosal oedema and no complaints of initially worsening nasal functions were still present 12 months after reboot surgery. Biopsy demonstrated an outstanding reduction in eosinophilic infiltration and re-epithelisation of nasal mucosa with normal features after reboot approach compared with previous surgeries. Therefore, reboot approach may become an effective instrument in plurioperated patients with CRSwNP who suffer from a nasal condition that is recalcitrant to pharmacological therapies and is unsatisfactorily treated by standard surgical techniques.