Mucormycosis of the hard palate: a rare case report

Abstract

Mucormycosis is a rare but aggressive opportunistic fungal infection. Mucormycosis refers to several different diseases; the causative agents of mucormycosis are the filamentous fungi of the Mucoraceae family, of the order Mucorales. Here, we report a case of mucormycosis in the hard palate of a 46-year-old woman without any predisposing factors. For early diagnosis of mucormycosis, histopathological examination is essential. In the present case, the fungus was identified by hematoxylin and eosin staining and confirmed by PAS and Grocott's silver methenamine special staining. As mucormycosis occurs infrequently, it may pose a diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma to those who are not familiar with its clinical presentation. The patient was successfully treated with a combination of surgical debridement and amphotericin-B. Through this case report, we would like to emphasize that mucormycosis of the hard palate occurs even in immunocompetent patients.