Mucormycosis occurring in an immunocompetent patient: a case report and review of literature

Summary

Mucormycosis is an opportunistic fungal infection with a high fatality rate and is the third most common fungal infection that is invasive in nature, next to candidiasis and aspergillosis. The condition is generally vasotropic and angio-invasive in nature. It gets disseminated to a wider area locally and also exhibits a distant spread. It is usually associated with medically compromised patients. However, mucormycosis in immunocompetent individuals is gaining attention as several cases have been reported throughout the world with a high incidence of such cases being reported from the Indian subcontinent. It is attributed to the poor socio-economic status and triggered by the local trauma due to unhygienic setup or poor health care. The pathway of pathogenesis is not clearly understood in immunocompetent patients and therefore becomes a matter of great concern. Here, we report one such case of mucormycosis affecting the maxillary region following tooth extraction in a 42-year-old male.

Keywords:

mucormycosis – Immunocompetent – Tooth extraction – Fungal hyphae

Mucormycosis (Zygomycosis) is an opportunistic fungal infection involving several areas of the body, caused by saprophytic fungus. Three variants of mucormycosis are identified, namely: cutaneous, rhino-cerebral and pulmonary variants; but the rhinocerebral form is more relevant to dental healthcare providers as it represents almost one-third to half of all the cases. The rhino-cerebral form is further subdivided into two subtypes: a highly fatal rhino-orbito-cerebral form involving the ophthalmic and internal carotid arteries, which is invasive; and a less fatal rhino-maxillary form, which involves the sphenopalatine and greater palatine arteries that result in thrombosis of the nasal turbinate and palatal necrosis. It is generally vasotropic, hence becoming angio-invasive and disseminated. Mucormycosis is usually associated with medically compromised patients. In an immunocompetent host, these infections generally progress locally, directly to the adjacent tissue and rarely disseminate. This fungus is ubiquitous in nature and inhalation of the spores is the common route of infection. Oral mucosal epithelium and endothelium act as a barrier against tissue- and angio-invasion (1). In such cases, the palate may be infected with Zygomycetes after minor oral trauma, like tooth extraction leading to primary palatal mucormycosis which tends to spread superiorly. Once, the spores of the fungus enter through a minor trauma, it is believed to have the capacity to secrete toxins and proteases that damage the endothelial cells in the oral mucous membrane (1). Mignogna et al. hypothesized that a chronic local insult may act as a predisposing factor for mucormycosis to develop in apparently healthy or immunocompetent individuals (2).  This hypothesis was further supported by other authors by the fact that the chronic local insult causes an alteration in the first line barrier defense due to an impairment in the mucous membrane which makes an individual vulnerable to fungal infection (3).  Furthermore, it was substantiated and hypothesized by Schleimer RP et al that in patients with chronic sinusitis, molecules like S100, SPINK5 and members of the epidermal differential complex, necessary in barrier maintenance of upper airways and sinuses are reduced (4). These factors hence give an explanation for possible mucormycosis in immunocompetent individuals. The confirmatory diagnosis is usually possible with the biopsy specimen. The hyphae of the fungus can be detected by using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), Gomori’s methenamine silver (GMS), periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) or calcofluor white stains. Sabouraud’s dextrose agar can be used to detect the fungal growth in a culture medium. However, negative culture results may often appear despite positive histologic findings. Here, we present a case of mucormycosis in an apparently immunocompetent patient, following dental extraction.

CASE REPORT

A 42-year-old male patient presented to the outpatient department with pain and swelling in the right cheek region for 4 months. The patient gave a history of the extraction of a maxillary right posterior tooth in a rural health center about a year back. He was a known smoker for the past 20 years but had no history of any systemic illnesses. On examination, the patient’s oral hygiene was poor with halitosis. He presented with ulceration and erythema in the labial and palatal mucosa in relation to the extracted site in the maxillary right first premolar region. Posteriorly, the lesion extended to the maxillary right first molar region. An area of exposed maxillary bone was also evident (Fig. 1). On palpation, the lesion was tender and the swabs made from the lesional area were sent for a culture test. The culture was negative for any fungal growth. On routine blood investigation, his blood sugar was found to be within normal range. A biopsy of the affected area was performed and sent for histopathologic evaluation. Histopathological examination revealed numerous PAS-positive, large, non-septate, branching hyphae, with blood vessels, areas of hemorrhage and necrosis (Fig. 2). Based on the histopathology, a diagnosis of mucormycosis was made. The patient was administered Amphotericin-B anti-fungal therapy for 6 weeks and the necrotic fragments along with the dead, sequestered bone was surgically debrided. The patient was followed up for 6 months and no signs and symptoms of recurrence were noted.

DISCUSSION

Mucormycosis is a fatal and rapidly progressive opportunistic infection caused by fungi belonging to the class Zygomycetes/Phycomycetes, order Mucorales. This condition was first described in human beings by Paltauf in the year 1885 (5), but it is being reported with increasing frequency only in the past two decades. According to the revised taxonomy of the fungi, the phylum Zygomycota, subphylum Zygomycotina, and class Zygomycetes have been replaced by the phylum Glomeromycota, with subphylum Mucormycotina which includes the order Mucorales (6). Mucorales are considered as the etiologic factor of the mucormycosis infection. Hence the term mucormycosis is preferred over zygomycosis. In dentistry, this condition gains increasing interest because of its manifestation in the facial and oral tissue before affecting other areas. Mucormycosis is the third most common invasive fungal infection, following aspergillosis and candidiasis, and accounts for 8.3–13.0% of all fungal infections (7). These fungi are ubiquitous, usually harmless and become pathogenic in humans under certain conditions like immunosuppression; steroids, antibiotic, cytotoxic therapy; and diabetic acidosis. The other predisposing factors include malignancy, renal failure, liver transplant, blood dyscrasias, burns, malnutrition and repeated hospitalization (8). However, in the past few years, mucormycosis in immunocompetent or in apparently healthy individuals showing no identifiable risk factors have been reported (9) (Tab. 1).

The disease may present with various manifestations with a predilection for the paranasal sinuses. Mucorales are aerobic in nature, but they can survive in-vitro for 2–5 days. They are usually found in soil, bread molds, and decayed matter. These organisms can usually be cultured from the oral cavity, throat, nasal cavity and stools of any healthy person. Hence every individual is potentilally exposed to it and may inhale the spores. The spores are then transported to the pharynx by the nasal ciliary system and is cleared by the gastrointestinal tract. Similarly, the phagocytes clear the spores inhaled into the lungs. In vulnerable individuals, the infection begins in the middle and inferior nasal turbinates. From the nasal cavity, the infection spreads to the paranasal sinus region and then to the retro-orbital region, either via direct extension or through ethmoidal, lacrymal, or angular vessels. Infection can also spread to the brain through the cribriform plate and the ophthalmic vessels. Following spread, the function of the cranial nerves II, III, IV, and VI may be impaired and can lead to ptosis, proptosis, pupillary dilatation, visual loss, periorbital cellulitis, and numbness. Intraorally, ulcer with a black and necrotic surface (eschar formation) having raised erythematous borders with areas of denudation can be seen. Other associated signs and symptoms can be a nasal obstruction with blood discharge, facial pain, headache, visual disturbances, and facial paralysis. If there is cranial vault involvement, it can lead to blindness, lethargy, seizures or can even lead to death. According to Moye and Cardill, black eschar formation is due to the thrombosis of the blood vessels (10). Fungal hyphae show an affinity for blood vessels and thus invade the tissues (10). Direct penetration into blood vessels and intravascular growth of the fungus leads to thrombosis and necrosis of the adjacent tissues.

Oral manifestations are usually seen in the palate, however other areas like tooth extraction site and tongue have also been reported. Clinically areas of ischemic necrosis with eschar (11) formation in the mucoperiosteum and areas of bony denudation are seen. According to Adam et al, the mortality rate of mucormycosis affecting various regions of the body is as follows: cutaneous mucormycosis – 16%, rhinocerebral – 67%, pulmonary – 83%, gastrointestinal and disseminated – 100% (12). Clinically, oral mucormycosis may be difficult to be differentiated from oral aspergillosis and other etiologies of palatal ulcers such as squamous cell carcinoma, gummatous necrosis of tertiary syphilis, or tuberculosis (Tab. 2) (13-18). Tissue cultures are positive in only 23% of cases and histopathologic findings aid in diagnosis (13,19). Swabs of discharge or abnormal tissue are not helpful as Mucorales can be colonizers. Therefore, a histopathologic diagnosis is of great importance. H&E or PAS stained histopathological examination reveals typical non-septate hyphae with variably thin, often collapsed or twisted walls showing branching at irregular angles and intervals, invading the blood vessel walls. However, in recent times, molecular techniques like PCR-based procedures aid in detecting Mucorales DNA, not only in culture and tissue samples but also in plasma or serum or even urine samples (20). As the oral cavity houses a complex flora, a mixed infection may be commonly present in the affected patients which indicates a high level of immunosuppression. These recent PCR techniques, therefore help in detecting Mucormycosis in a very early stage and also differentiate them from other infections, for example aspergillosis (20). In the case discussed here, a negative culture result was obtained and the diagnosis was based on histopathologic findings. The patient being immunocompetent, the disease outcome had a favorable prognosis.

In conclusion, the diagnosis of mucormycosis is challenging to date. The mortality rate of mucormycosis is quite high due to delayed diagnosis and lack of timely treatment. Therefore, a non-specific palatal ulcer could be considered as the presenting sign of mucormycosis and it is necessary for a dental practitioner to be alert to early signs and symptoms of this disease, especially when evaluating the patients within the high-risk group. The histopathological demonstration of Mucorales-like hyphae is essential for the diagnosis. The most effective treatment and management often require a combination of antifungal agents, along with the elimination of predisposing factors, followed by surgery.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We would like to thank Prof. Dr. Pankaj Kukreja, Head of the Department, Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, TMDCRC, Teerthanker Mahaveer University, Moradabad for performing the surgical procedures.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

∗ Correspondence address:

Dr. Aparna K Sanath,

Associate Professor, Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology and Oral Microbiology, Teerthanker Mahaveer Dental College & Research Centre,

TMU campus, Delhi road, Bagadpur,

Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, INDIA 244001

tel.: +91 8762828167

e-mail: draparnasanath@gmail.com