Longterm survival in acute rhinocerebral mucormycosis with giant cell arteritis and foreign body granulomas

A case of rhinocerebral mucormycosis occurring in a 41-year-old man with in sulin-treated diabetes mellitus is reported. Microscopically, biopsy sample s obtained from the left ethmoid and middle turbinate sinuses contained fun gi that formed mycotic granulomas associated with multinucleate giant cell arteritis. The multinucleate giant cells contained broad, infrequently sept ate hyphase consistent with mucormycosis. The patient received surgical deb ridement with extenteration of the left orbit, and intravenous liposome-enc apsulated amphotericin B. After 12 months, examination of the patient revea led complete healing. Multinucleate giant cell granulomas and arteritis are only exceptionally associated with rhinocerebral mucormycosis, but these h istologic findings may be correlated with a progressive disease with better prognosis.