A Case of Cutaneous Mucormycosis Developed in a Diabetic Patient with lnjection of Paraffin on the Face.

Kim, Jong Hyun; Hwang, So Min; Jeon, Jae Yong; Bae, Yong Chan

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Original Article

Journal of the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons 1999;26(3):519-523.
Published online May 1, 1999.

A Case of Cutaneous Mucormycosis Developed in a Diabetic Patient with lnjection of Paraffin on the Face.

Jong Hyun Kim, So Min Hwang, Jae Yong Jeon, Yong Chan Bae

Abstract

Mucormycosis is an opportunistic fungal infection caused by the mucorales, which consist of the Rhizophus, Absidia, Mortierella, and Mucor. The diverse clinical forms of mucormycosis can be categorized as rhinocerebral, pulmonary, disseminated, gastrointestinal, cutaneous and miscellaneous. Although it can cause disease in healthy people, it most commonly affects patients who are diabetic or immunosup-pressed. Rarely, mucormycosis develops confined to the subcutaneous tissue. We experienced a case of cutaneous mucormycosis developed in a well-controlled diabetic patient who had previously injected foreign material on her face for an aesthetic purpose at the behest of an unlicensed physician. The patient had tissue necrosis and purulent discharge on her left cheek. Following histologic examination, we diagnosed the condition as cutaneous mucormycosis and treated it by wide excision combined with amphotericin B therapy. The disease was cured without any significant sequelae within 6 months of follow up. Cutaneous mucormycosis is rarely reported but it can cause facial deformity due to tissue necrosis, so that early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are important. Currently, foreign material injection for aesthetic purposes is still performed by unlicensed physicians. We present a case report concluding that one should consider the possibility of fungal infection in skin lesion in diabetic or other immunosup-pressed patients. We also emphasize the seriousness of illegal injection of foreign material.

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