A New Diagnostic Criteria and Grading System of Rhino-Maxillary Mucormycosis based on Cone Beam Computed Tomographic Findings

Pooja Muley; Ranjana Garg; Rajesh Jambure; Vivek Vijay Gupta; K P Mahesh; Gagandeep Thind

doi:10.4103/ccd.ccd_413_21

A New Diagnostic Criteria and Grading System of Rhino-Maxillary Mucormycosis based on Cone Beam Computed Tomographic Findings

Contemp Clin Dent. 2023 Jan-Mar;14(1):52-56. doi: 10.4103/ccd.ccd_413_21. Epub 2022 Nov 3.

Authors

Pooja Muley¹, Ranjana Garg², Rajesh Jambure³, Vivek Vijay Gupta⁴, K P Mahesh⁵, Gagandeep Thind⁶

Affiliations

¹ Face 3D CBCT Center, Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India.
² Department of Oral Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, SEGi University, Malaysia.
³ Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, MGM Medical College and Hospital, Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India.
⁴ Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, SEGi University, Malaysia.
⁵ Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, JSSAHER Dental College and Hospital, Mysore, Karnataka, India.
⁶ Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Gian Sagar Dental College and Hospital, Rajpura, Punjab, India.

Abstract

Background: Mucormycosis is a rare opportunistic fungal infection, which has a rapidly progressive and fulminant course with fatal outcome. It is the need of the hour to diagnose and treat the increasing cases urgently.

Aim: The aim of this article is to study the common radiographic features of rhinomaxillary mucormycosis (RMM), find diagnostic criteria, and grade the disease according to the radiographic features.

Settings: This study was conducted at Face Three-Dimensional Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) Center, Aurangabad, Maharashtra.

Materials and methods: CBCT scans of 30 patients who were referred for CBCT scanning of suspected RMM were retrospectively evaluated for relevant radiological data.

Results: The most common CBCT features of RMM were osteolytic lesions in alveolar bone, palate, nose and nasal cavity, and zygoma along with involvement of paranasal sinuses. About 76.66% of patients had a history of COVID-19 infection.

Conclusion: According to the collected data, the scans of probable rhinomaxillary mucormycosis were graded in three groups - mild, moderate, and severe. The goal of this article is to emphasize the most overlook diagnostic entity - CBCT and its significant importance in early diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of RMM. Early diagnosis of RMM can save the patients from the extent of morbidity and mortality.

Keywords: Cone-beam computed tomography; grade assessment; mucormycosis; osteolytic lesions; radiology.