Key Points
1. COVID-19 associated mucormycosis (CAM) is a life-threatening fungal
disease that has become an epidemic and notifiable disease after the
second wave of COVID-19 in India
2. The target group for CAM includes severely immunocompromised
individuals either by COVID-19, or corticosteroid therapy, or
uncontrolled glycemic index.
3. With an intention to find out the sensitivity and specificity of
diagnostic nasal endoscopy (DNE) and contrast-enhanced magnetic
resonance imaging (CEMRI), one hundred two consecutive patients of
target group with clinical features of CAM were enrolled in the study.
4. The sensitivity and specificity of DNE as compared to KOH mount were
73.4% and 94.7% respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of CEMRI
as compared to KOH mount were 87.5% and 50% respectively.
5. CEMRI misses fewer cases than DNE. In cases of normal endoscopy in
the target group, imaging and biopsy should be advised to reduce
false-negative results. Nasal endoscopy, biopsy, and imaging can
reliably detect the majority of cases of CAM.