Zygomycosis of the maxillary sinus and palate caused by Basidiobolus haptosporus.

Basidiobolus haptosporus is known to cause subcutaneous zygomycosis in tropical Africa and Asia. We cared for a 49-year-old hyperglycemic, asplenic man who had never traveled outside the United States and who was seen initially for a painless palatal ulcer with cutaneous hypesthesia of the right cheek and upper lip. An invasive process involved the right middle nasal turbinate, maxillary antrum, maxillary division of the trigeminal nerve, and bony palate. Histological examination of biopsy tissue showed necrotizing granulomata with broad, nonseptate hyphae. Basidiobolus haptosporus was cultured from this tissue. Various laboratory studies revealed no immunologic defect and his lesions responded to therapy with amphotericin B. To our knowledge, this represents the first case of zygomycosis caused by B haptosporus in the Americas and the first culture-documented case of invasive mycosis caused by this mold.