Cerebral mucormycosis: Pathogenesis of the disease: Description of the fungus, rhizopus oryzae, isolated from a fatal case

Abstract

Rhizopus oryzae has been isolated and identified as the infectious agent in one of two diabetic patients dying of cerebral mucormycosis. To our knowledge this rare and fatal complication of diabetes mellitus has never been diagnosed prior to the patient's death. The clinical and autopsy findings of this fungus disease in our own and previously reported cases are reviewed. The paranasal sinuses are suggested as a possible portal of entry of the infection and problems of pathogenesis are discussed. From this study emerges a syndrome consisting of uncontrolled diabetes mellitus associated with ophthalmoplegia, signs of meningoencephalitis and, possibly, sinusitis. These characteristic manifestations may permit an antemortem diagnosis of this disorder.