Multiple fungal brain abscess in a child with acute myeloblastic leukemia

Fungal brain abscess is rarely cured in childhood. The mortality rate is higher than 95% in immunocompromised patients, even if antifungal agent and surgery are used. A 5-year-old boy with acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) (M2 according to FAB classification) and multiple candidal brain abscesses is discussed. The candidal brain abscesses of this patient were thought to be iatrogenic, due to the difficult lumbar puncture of intratechal therapy. He was successfully treated with combination conventional amphotericin B (ABC), surgical drainage, and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. Toxicity was not determined due to ABC. This is thought to be the first child to survive AML and multiple candidal brain abscesses.