Imaging Characteristics and Radiological Analysis of Rhinoorbital - Cerebral Mucormycosis.

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Ophthalmology

Background:

• Rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis is a serious fungal infection, often associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and steroid use.
• Early diagnosis and management are critical for patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the diagnostic utility of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in identifying key imaging features of rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis.
• To assess the role of MRI in evaluating disease extent and guiding treatment decisions.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cross-sectional study involving 95 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 and subsequent mucormycosis.
• Analysis of imaging findings from MRI scans to determine patterns of disease involvement.

Main Results:

• Male patients predominated (95 total), all with a history of COVID-19 and steroid use.
• Maxillary sinuses were most commonly affected (97.22%).
• Significant rates of intraorbital (63%) and intracranial (10%) extension were observed, with rare cases of perineural spread and mycotic aneurysm.

Conclusions:

• MRI is essential for early and accurate diagnosis of rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis.
• MRI facilitates assessment of disease invasion into surrounding structures, aiding preoperative planning and prognosis.
• Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) enhances diagnostic specificity by localizing disease extension through restricted diffusion.