Subacute disseminated mucormycosis in a diabetic male

Mucormycosis is an opportunistic invasive infection caused by fungi of the order Mucorales. Rhizopus, Absidia, and Mucor are the most commonly encountered genera. Disease is characterized by vascular invasion, thrombosis, and tissue necrosis. Rhinocerebral disease is the most common manifestation but pulmonary, cutaneous, gastrointestinal, and widely disseminated forms have been reported. Pulmonary and disseminated disease are usually seen in neutropenic patients with leukemia or lymphoma. Both present as fever and unexplained pulmonary infiltrates unresponsive to antibacterials and corticosteroids. Disease is usually fulminant and has a high mortality rate. Diagnosis is most commonly made at autopsy. A single case of disseminated disease is reported that is unusual in its subacute course and its occurrence in an otherwise healthy non-neutropenic diabetic male.