Isolated palate ulcer due to mucormycosis

Abstract

Mucormycosis is a rare but serious fungal infection that rapidly attacks and kills its untreated victims, who are often immunocompromised. It is one of the most fulminant and often fatal mycotic infections known to human beings. Rhinocerebral mucormycosis is the commonest presentation and its extension to the orbit and brain is quite usual but the palatal involvement is a rare and late occurrence. Isolated location of mucormycosis on the palate in an immunocompetent host is an unusual clinical entity. Here we report a case of deep hard palate ulcer due to mucormycosis in a 56-year-old man without any predisposing factor. He was successfully treated with a combination of surgical debridement and systemic liposomal amphotericin B administration for six weeks. By presenting this case report we would like to emphasis that mucormycosis should be included in the differential diagnosis of the hard palate ulcers even in immunocompetent patient.