Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 23, 2025
Intracranial Orthotopic Allografting of Medulloblastoma Cells in Immunocompromised Mice
Published on: October 3, 2010
Invasive Rhino-Orbito-Cerebral Mucormycosis in Pediatric Patient with Acute Leukemia
Background:
Invasive fungal infections are a life-threatening complication of cancer treatments, especially in hemato-oncological patients. Mucormycosis is the third leading cause of invasive fungal infections after Aspergillus and Candida infections. The first clinical symptoms are usually non-specific, which can lead to a late diagnosis and delayed therapy.
Purpose:
The objective of this report is to summarize data in the literature about mucormycosis and to present a case report of a patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, who developed this infection at our center. Risk factors for the development of mucormycosis, clinical symptoms, radiology, laboratory results, and outcome were retrospectively evaluated.
Case:
We describe a 6-years-old female patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. During the induction phase of therapy, the patient developed febrile neutropenia and did not respond to therapy with a combination of antibiotics and supportive treatment. Pansinusitis and orbitocellulitis developed. Examination of the biological material revealed that the etiological agent was a Rhizopus sp. The patient was treated with a combination of antimycotic drugs, but the infection disseminated to the central nervous system. She underwent radical surgical resection of the affected tissue. At this time, she is still under treatment with antimycotic and oncology agents, but is in remission of the main diagnosis and in good clinical condition.
Conclusion:
Mucormycosis is an invasive fungal infection with high morbidity and mortality. Early diagnosis and initiation of effective therapy using a combination of amphotericin B administration and surgery are necessary to obtain a favorable outcome. The authors declare they have no potential conflicts of interest concerning drugs, products, or services used in the study. The Editorial Board declares that the manuscript met the ICMJE recommendation for biomedical papers.
Insights
Mucormycosis is a severe fungal infection in cancer patients. Early diagnosis and combined antifungal therapy with surgery improve outcomes for this life-threatening condition.
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Hematology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) pose significant risks to cancer patients, particularly those with hematological malignancies.
- Mucormycosis ranks as the third most common IFI, following Aspergillus and Candida infections.
- Non-specific initial symptoms of mucormycosis often lead to delayed diagnosis and treatment.
Observation:
- A case report details a 6-year-old acute lymphoblastic leukemia patient who developed mucormycosis during induction therapy.
- The patient presented with febrile neutropenia, pansinusitis, and orbitocellulitis, unresponsive to antibiotics.
- Rhizopus sp. was identified; the infection disseminated to the CNS despite antimycotic treatment.
Findings:
- Successful management involved radical surgical resection and combination antimycotic therapy.
- The patient achieved remission of leukemia and is in good clinical condition while continuing treatment.
- This case highlights the aggressive nature of mucormycosis in immunocompromised individuals.
Implications:
- Prompt diagnosis and aggressive treatment, including amphotericin B and surgery, are crucial for favorable outcomes in mucormycosis.
- Understanding risk factors and clinical presentations is vital for early intervention in high-risk cancer patients.
- This case underscores the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in managing invasive fungal infections in immunocompromised hosts.
