Zygomycosis due to Conidiobolus coronatus in west Bengal

Zygomycosis of upper respiratory tract, caused by Conidiobolus coronatus, in eight Bengalee males and one female is described. The clinical syndrome of the cases included initial coryza, epistaxis, intranasal tumor, nasal obstruction, broadening of bridge of nose with swelling of paranasal sinuses, dorsum of nose, alae nasi, cheek and glabella in all or majority of the cases. In addition upper lip or both lips and pharynx were involved in some cases. Swellings were fixed to the skin in seven cases and to the deeper tissues in five cases. The fungus was demonstrated by direct microscopy in the nasal mucosa, and was isolated in culture. The isolates produced conidia, replicative conidia and villose conidia but not multiplicative conidia. The disease was cured with KI and/or ketoconazole/fluconazole. The cases described here constitute the first report on zygomycosis due to C. coronatus from North-eastern India.