Pulmonary phycomycetoma in a patient with diabetes mellitus

Phycomycetes are ubiquitous saprophytic fungi sharing with other fungi a propensity for invasion and disease production in immunologically compromised hosts. Diabetes mellitus, in particular diabetic ketoacidosis, is a common clinical setting for phycomycosis. A pulmonary phycomycetoma was diagnosed in a diabetic patient from material obtained by bronchial brushing was treated successfully with a combination of surgery and amphotericin B.