Keywords: Zygomycosis, sinusitis

Abstract: Zygomycosis, or phycomycosis, is a term used to designate a group of deep mycoses caused by fungi of the Zygomycetes class. Among these, two orders can produce pathologies in humans: Mucorales and Entomophthorales. The former commonly attack innmunocompromised patients or patients with an underlying disease, usually diabetes mellitus. In contrast, Entomophthorales usually attack previously healthy children and young adults. The first report of entomophthoramycosis in the literature dates back to 1956, and approximately 150 cases have been reported since. We present here the case of a 12 year old female patient from the State of Amazonas with no pathological antecedents who was referred to the Service of Otorhinolaryngology of the University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, with a diagnoses of maxillo-fronto-ethmoidal sinusites of difficult clinical control on the left side. The patient was submitted to clinical and surgical treatment. The laboratory data for the material collected during surgery were negative for fungi and anaerobes. The diagnoses of entomophthoramycosis was established only after a biopsy of the jugal mucosa. After several unsuccessful attempts at oral treatment with antifungal agents, the patient presented a good response to treatment with amphotericin B. We point out the rarity of this type of pathology, as well as the need for rigorous and prolonged clinical treatment because of the severe, and often recurrent nature of the disease.