[Visceral candidiasis in 2 children treated for acute leukemia]

The authors report two cases of splenic and hepatosplenic candidiasis occurring during a protracted neutropenia induced by chemotherapy for acute leukemia (lymphoblastic and myeloblastic respectively). Fungal infection was revealed by persistent or recurrent fever after correction of neutropenia. Diagnosis was suggested by findings at abdominal ultrasonography. It was confirmed by histological analysis which, in the first case, required open liver biopsy. In both cases, lack of improvement of splenic lesions despite treatment with Amphotericin B followed by fluconazole led to splenectomy. Both patients received postoperative anti fungal therapy with Ampho B and at one year's follow up, the patient who had the hepatosplenic candidiasis seems to have recovered.