MUCORMYCOSIS IN A PATIENT WITH SARCOIDOSIS

Mucormycosis is a rare complication of sarcoidosis. We report only the third instance of mucormycosis occurring in a patient with sarcoidosi s. Corticosteroid therapy, even short courses of less than one month d uration, appears to be a major risk factor for the development of muco rmycosis. Mucormycosis should be suspected upon the development of sig ns and symptoms of chronic sinusitis, necrotic nasal discharge, propto sis or periorbital edema. Mucormycosis is confirmed on routine hematox ylin and eosin stains by the identification of tissue invasion by the broad, aseptate mucor fungi. Prompt identification of the infection is essential to reduce morbidity and prevent mortality.