DOI: 10.36347/sjmcr.2015.v03i03.030

Pages: 278-280

Mucormycosis is an infectious disease which is caused by a group of fungi of the order mucorales. It usually affects persons who are immunocompromised. The predisposing factors are diabetic ketoacidosis, renal failure, malignancy, old age and very rarely in persons under ventilation. Respiratory tract is the most common route of transmission. It frequently involves the nasal sinuses, lungs and brain. Out of these, rhinocerebral mycosis is the most common and most lethal form of infection causing high mortality. This form is usually present in patients under ventilation. Here, we present an uncommon autopsy finding of a 26 year old pregnant lady who was non diabetic, with no past history of any other immunosuppressed condition like renal failure or malignancy. She underwent twin delivery by caesarean section but due to some complication she was put under ventilation for 15 days. She died after 15 days. Autopsy was done which revealed a black necrotic area over medial aspect of frontal lobe of the brain & on microscopy showed an angiocentric fungal granuloma invading the cerebral vessel & obliterating its lumen by the formation of a thrombus. Autopsy findings from the lung showed areas of congestion with grey hepatization & on microscopy revealed the alveoli filled with fungal bodies, proteinaceous exudate and dense inflammatory infiltrate. PAS & Grocott methanamine silver stain was done to confirm the morphology of fungal colonies. Special stains revealed broad, aseptate fungal hyphae with branching at right angles. These were found to be consistent with mucormycosis.