The diagnostic pitfalls of mucormycosis

Abstract

Background: Invasive mucormycosis is a very aggressive fungal disease among immunocompromised pediatric patients caused by saprophytic fungi that belong to the order of the Mucorales. Case Report: We describe a case of of Lichtheimia corymbifera infection in a 15-year-old child with B-cell-Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (B-NHL) involving lung, kidney and thyroid that initially was diagnosed as probable aspergillosis delaying the effective therapy for mucormycosis. Conclusions: This case showed that also the intensive chemotherapy for B-NHL may represent a risk factor for mucormycosis infection. Liposomal amphotericin B and surgery remain the key tools for the successful treatment of this aggressive disease.