Disseminated hyalohyphomycosis in a leukemic patient

A 69-year-old man with acute myeloblastic leukemia was admitted to the hospital for induction chemotherapy. A complication caused by a disseminated mycotic infection occurred while the neutropenic patient was maintained on a course of cytotoxic drugs, antibiotics, and corticosteroid therapy. The causal isolate was identified as Fusarium solani on the basis of its colonial and microscopic morphology. This fungus developed in the patient's tissue in the form of hyaline, branched, septate hyphae. This case fits the definition of the disease entity known as hyalohyphomycosis. The term hyalohyphomycosis encompasses infections caused by various nondematiaceous opportunistic fungi with a filamentous tissue form. The purpose of this article is to review and discuss the literature on hyalohyphomycosis caused by Fusarium species. Combined histopathologic and mycologic findings were evaluated to determine the nature of opportunistic mycotic infections.