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Mucormycosis resulting in a pseudoaneurysm in the spleen

P C Nevitt1, L Das Narla, E A Hingsbergen

  • 1Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Department of Radiology, Richmond 23298-0615, USA.

Pediatric Radiology
|February 24, 2001
PubMed

Insights

Disseminated mucormycosis in a child with acute lymphoblastic leukemia led to a splenic pseudoaneurysm. Successful management involved Amphotericin B and splenectomy, a novel approach for this rare complication.

Area of Science:

  • Mycology
  • Hematology
  • Vascular Surgery

Background:

  • Mucormycosis is a severe fungal infection often fatal in immunocompromised individuals.
  • Tissue infarction and vascular invasion are characteristic of mucormycosis.
  • Disseminated mucormycosis is rare, particularly in pediatric leukemia patients.

Observation:

  • A 16-year-old with acute lymphoblastic leukemia developed disseminated mucormycosis.
  • The infection resulted in a pseudoaneurysm of the spleen.
  • This specific presentation has not been previously documented in medical literature.

Findings:

  • Successful treatment combined systemic antifungal therapy with Amphotericin B and surgical intervention (splenectomy).
  • This multidisciplinary approach effectively managed the splenic pseudoaneurysm secondary to mucormycosis.
  • The case highlights a previously undescribed complication and treatment strategy.

Implications:

  • This case expands the understanding of mucormycosis complications in pediatric leukemia.
  • It suggests that a combination of antifungal therapy and surgery can be effective for splenic pseudoaneurysms caused by mucormycosis.
  • Further research may explore this treatment paradigm for similar rare presentations.

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