[Zygomycoses: clinical aspects and pathology in 10 patients]

Deep fungal infections caused by zygomycetes (so-called mucormycoses) are rare. Whereas in the past rhinocerebral mycosis dominated, today a wide range of clinical manifestations must be expected, especially pulmonary infections and invasion of vessel walls with systemic infarction. On the basis of 10 cases of Mucoraceae mycosis and a review of the literature, the predisposing conditions, clinical symptoms and pathologic-anatomic findings are described. Our observations include 7 patients with leukemia and 2 adults and one newborn without malignant neoplasia. Except for the patient with rhinocerebral mycosis, the diagnosis was not established during the patients' lifetime. 3 patients received systemic antimycotic therapy. Our observations suggest that infarctions of internal organs in immunocompromised patients should direct suspicion towards angio-related mycoses, not only of aspergillosis, but also of zygomycosis.