Role of Nasal Endoscopy in Early Clinical Diagnosis of Mucormycosis during COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Background: Sinonasal mucormycosis is an uncommon entity and extremely challenging to treat by ENT surgeons. It occurs mainly in immunocompromised patients. Nasal endoscopy in the early stage could help in the diagnosis and treatment of sinonasal mucormycosis. Objective: The aim is to evaluate the role of nasal endoscopy in the early clinical diagnosis of mucormycosis in COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: This prospective study was conducted in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Tertiary Care Hospital, Central India, for 1 month. Nasal endoscopy was done on all the patients, and biopsy was sent to histopathological examination. Results: A total of 40 patients in the age group of 18–78 years, with the suspected signs and symptoms of mucormycosis, enrolled in the present study. Out of 40 patients, 18 cases had a history of COVID-19 and 22 cases had a history of hospitalization for breathlessness in the past 1–4 months. Mucormycosis was diagnosed by direct microscopic examination of aspirate/crusts from the nasal/sinus mucosae seen in 10 (25%), diagnosed by histopathology in 24 (60%), and both microscopy and histopathology in 16 (40%) cases. Conclusion: We have concluded that the early endoscopic diagnosis and prompt treatment of mucormycosis definitely reduce the morbidity and mortality of the patients.