Orbital magnetic resonance imaging profile and clinicoradiological correlation in COVID-19-associated rhino-orbital-cerebral mucormycosis: A single-center study of 270 patients from North India

Purpose: To study the clinical profile and magnetic resonance imaging ( MRI) features in patients of COVID-19-associated rhino-orbital-cerebral mucormycosis (CA-ROCM) with orbital involvement and perform a clinicoradiological correlation. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed at a tertiary care center in north India from May 2021 to June 2021. Consecutive patients with clinical, nasal endoscopic, and/or microbiological evidence of CA-ROCM underwent MRI of paranasal sinuses, orbit, and brain as per the study protocol. Orbital MRI findings were studied in detail and were correlated with clinical signs. Results: Two hundred and seventy patients were studied. The mean age was 48.4 (+/- 16.82) years. A male predilection was noted (male:female = 1.77). Orbital involvement was seen in 146 (54%) patients on clinical evaluation and in 184 (68%) patients on MRI. Unilateral orbital involvement was more common (134; 92%). The most common presenting symptom was periorbital and/or facial pain (141; 52.2%) and the most common clinical sign was periorbital edema (116; 43%). The most common MRI finding was suggestive of orbital cellulitis (160; 59%). Orbital compartment syndrome was found in 17 (6.3%) patients. The inter-rater agreement between clinical and radiological assessments to detect the involvement of infraorbital nerve and frontal nerve was found to be 85.56%, (. 0.621) and 93.70% (. 0.776), respectively. The diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of MRI to detect medial orbital wall defect were found to be 87.9%, 65%, and 97%, respectively. Conclusion: Orbital imaging features of a cohort of ROCM patients have been presented with clinicoradiological correlation.