Disseminated Aspergillosis Complicated With a Myocardial Abscess in an Immunodeficient Child

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Pediatric Oncology

Background:

• Invasive aspergillosis is a serious complication in immunocompromised patients, often leading to poor prognoses.
• Cardiac involvement in invasive aspergillosis is rare and typically fatal.
• Acquired immunosuppression increases susceptibility to opportunistic fungal infections like aspergillosis.

Observation:

• A 12-year-old girl presented with a rare case of myocardial aspergillosis abscess.
• Diagnosis was established using a multimodality cardiac imaging approach.
• The patient had a history of conditions leading to acquired immunosuppression.

Findings:

• Successful treatment involved prolonged antimycotic therapy.
• Bone marrow transplantation significantly improved the patient's immune status.
• This case represents the first reported favorable outcome for pediatric myocardial aspergillosis.

Implications:

• Multimodality cardiac imaging is crucial for diagnosing rare cardiac fungal infections.
• Aggressive treatment strategies, including bone marrow transplantation, can lead to favorable outcomes in severe pediatric invasive aspergillosis.
• This case highlights the importance of considering invasive fungal infections in immunocompromised children with cardiac symptoms.