Mucormycosis Causing Ludwig Angina: A Unique Presentation Journal Article


Authors: McSpadden, R. P.; Martin, J. R.; Mehrotra, S; Thorpe, E
Article Title: Mucormycosis Causing Ludwig Angina: A Unique Presentation
Abstract: Mucormycosis is a rare fungal infection with a yearly incidence of 1.7 cases per million in the United States. It usually occurs in patients with metabolic abnormalities or who are immunocompromised with prolonged neutropenia. However, it can also occur in patients without any underlying disease process. The treatment of choice is surgical debridement of necrotic tissue and systemic antifungal therapy, including amphotericin B. A dilemma for the surgeon when faced with head and neck mucormycosis is the morbidity of surgical debridement from both a functional and cosmetic standpoint. There have been multiple case reports of a form of cutaneous mucormycosis in the head and neck involving the oral mucosa and the mandible, but no reports in the literature of a fungal infection causing Ludwig angina. This report describes one such case. The morbid clinical implications of mucormycosis causing Ludwig angina become apparent when considering the defect caused by adequate surgical debridement.
Journal Title: Journal of oral and maxillofacial surgery : official journal of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
Volume: 75
Issue: 4
ISSN: 1531-5053; 0278-2391
Publisher: Unknown  
Journal Place: United States
Date Published: 2017
Start Page: 759
End Page: 762
Language: eng
DOI/URL:
Notes: LR: 20170328; CI: Copyright (c) 2016; JID: 8206428; 2016/09/02 [received]; 2016/10/14 [revised]; 2016/10/18 [accepted]; ppublish
LUC Authors
  1. Eric Thorpe
    25 Thorpe
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