Early detection of chronic disseminated Candida infection in leukemia patients with febrile neutropenia: value of computer-assisted serial ultrasound documentation

Value of diffusion-weighted imaging in diagnosis and therapy response assessment of hepatic fungal infection in patients with acute leukemia

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the role of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) for diagnosis and posttreatment assessment of hepatic fungal infection in patients with acute leukemia.

METHODS

Patients with acute leukemia and highly suspected hepatic fungal infection were collected in the study. All the patients underwent MRI examination, including initial and follow-up DWI. The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of the lesions and the normal liver parenchyma were compared using Student's t-test. The ADC values of the hepatic fungal lesions of pretreatment and posttreatment were compared using paired t-test.

RESULTS

A total of 13 patients with hepatic fungal infections have enrolled this study. Hepatic lesions were rounded or oval shaped, measured from 0.3 to 3 cm in diameter. The lesions showed significantly hyperintense signal on DWI and markedly hypointense signal on the ADC map, reflecting a marked restricted diffusion. The mean ADC values of the lesions were significantly lower than those of normal liver parenchyma (1.08 ± 0.34 × 10^-3 vs. 1.98 ± 0.12 × 10^-3  mm² /s, p < 0.001). After treatment, the mean ADC values of the lesions were significantly increased when comparing with those of pretreatment (1.39 ± 0.29 × 10^-3 vs. 1.06 ± 0.10 × 10^-3 mm² /s, p = .016).

CONCLUSION

DWI can provide diffusion information of hepatic fungal infection in patients with acute leukemia, which could be taken as a valuable tool for diagnosis and therapy response assessment of these patients.

Diagnosis of invasive fungal diseases in haematology and oncology: 2018 update of the recommendations of the infectious diseases working party of the German society for hematology and medical oncology (AGIHO)

Invasive fungal diseases (IFD) are a primary cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with haematological malignancies. These infections are mostly life-threatening and an early diagnosis and initiation of appropriate antifungal therapy are essential for the clinical outcome. Most commonly, Aspergillus and Candida species are involved. However, other Non-Aspergillus moulds are increasingly identified in case of documented IFD. For definite diagnosis of IFD, a combination of diagnostic tools have to be applied, including conventional mycological culture and non-conventional microbiological tests such as antibody/antigen and molecular tests, as well as histopathology and radiology. Although varying widely in cancer patients, the risk of invasive fungal infection is highest in those with allogeneic stem cell transplantation and those with acute leukaemia and markedly lower in patients with solid cancer. Since the last edition of Diagnosis of Invasive Fungal Diseases recommendations of the German Society for Hematology and Oncology in 2012, integrated care pathways have been proposed for the management and therapy of IFDs with either a diagnostic driven strategy as opposed to a clinical or empirical driven strategy. This update discusses the impact of this additional evidence and effective revisions.

Imaging of acute and subacute toxicities of cancer therapy in children

Effective cancer therapies have resulted in significant improvement in survival. However, treatment-related acute and subacute complications are a cause of significant morbidity and mortality. Effects of cancer therapy in children can be seen early in the survival period or later in life in almost all organ systems of the body. Many of these conditions are evaluated by imaging and some are diagnosed based on characteristic imaging features. This article aims to discuss acute and subacute toxicities of cancer therapy in children involving multiple organ systems, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, hepatobiliary, genitourinary and musculoskeletal systems with emphasis on those in which imaging plays a role in diagnosis or management. We also discuss the role of imaging and choice of imaging modalities in these conditions.

[Recommendations for the diagnosis of candidemia in Latin America. Grupo Proyecto Épico]

Candidemia is one of the most frequent opportunistic mycoses worldwide. Limited epidemiological studies in Latin America indicate that incidence rates are higher in this region than in the Northern Hemisphere. Diagnosis is often made late in the infection, affecting the initiation of antifungal therapy. A more scientific approach, based on specific parameters, for diagnosis and management of candidemia in Latin America is warranted. 'Recommendations for the diagnosis and management of candidemia' are a series of manuscripts that have been developed by members of the Latin America Invasive Mycosis Network. They aim to provide a set of best-evidence recommendations for the diagnosis and management of candidemia. This publication, 'Recommendations for the diagnosis of candidemia in Latin America', was written to provide guidance to healthcare professionals on the diagnosis of candidemia, as well as on the usefulness and application of susceptibility testing in patients who have a confirmed diagnosis of candidemia. Computerized searches of existing literature were performed by PubMed. The data were extensively reviewed and analyzed by members of the group. The group also met on two occasions to pose questions, discuss conflicting views, and deliberate on a series of management recommendations. 'Recommendations for the diagnosis of candidemia in Latin America' includes diagnostic methods used to detect candidemia, Candida species identification, and susceptibility testing. The availability of methods, their costs and treatment settings are considered. This manuscript is the first of this series that deals with diagnosis and treatment of invasive candidiasis. Other publications in this series include: 'Recommendations for the management of candidemia in adults in Latin America', 'Recommendations for the management of candidemia in children in Latin America', and 'Recommendations for the management of candidemia in neonates in Latin America'.

Recommendations for the diagnosis of candidemia in Latin America. Latin America Invasive Mycosis Network

Candidemia is one of the most frequent opportunistic mycoses worldwide. Limited epidemiological studies in Latin America indicate that incidence rates are higher in this region than in the Northern Hemisphere. Diagnosis is often made late in the infection, affecting the initiation of antifungal therapy. A more scientific approach, based on specific parameters, for diagnosis and management of candidemia in Latin America is warranted. 'Recommendations for the diagnosis and management of candidemia' are a series of manuscripts that have been developed by members of the Latin America Invasive Mycosis Network. They aim to provide a set of best-evidence recommendations for the diagnosis and management of candidemia. This publication, 'Recommendations for the diagnosis of candidemia in Latin America', was written to provide guidance to healthcare professionals on the diagnosis of candidemia, as well as on the usefulness and application of susceptibility testing in patients who have a confirmed diagnosis of candidemia. Computerized searches of existing literature were performed by PubMed. The data were extensively reviewed and analyzed by members of the group. The group also met on two occasions to pose questions, discuss conflicting views, and deliberate on a series of management recommendations. 'Recommendations for the diagnosis of candidemia in Latin America' includes diagnostic methods used to detect candidemia, Candida species identification, and susceptibility testing. The availability of methods, their costs and treatment settings are considered. This manuscript is the first of this series that deals with diagnosis and treatment of invasive candidiasis. Other publications in this series include: 'Recommendations for the management of candidemia in adults in Latin America', 'Recommendations for the management of candidemia in children in Latin America', and 'Recommendations for the management of candidemia in neonates in Latin America'.

ESCMID* guideline for the diagnosis and management of Candida diseases 2012: adults with haematological malignancies and after haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT)

Fungal diseases still play a major role in morbidity and mortality in patients with haematological malignancies, including those undergoing haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Although Aspergillus and other filamentous fungal diseases remain a major concern, Candida infections are still a major cause of mortality. This part of the ESCMID guidelines focuses on this patient population and reviews pertaining to prophylaxis, empirical/pre-emptive and targeted therapy of Candida diseases. Anti-Candida prophylaxis is only recommended for patients receiving allogeneic stem cell transplantation. The authors recognize that the recommendations would have most likely been different if the purpose would have been prevention of all fungal infections (e.g. aspergillosis). In targeted treatment of candidaemia, recommendations for treatment are available for all echinocandins, that is anidulafungin (AI), caspofungin (AI) and micafungin (AI), although a warning for resistance is expressed. Liposomal amphotericin B received a BI recommendation due to higher number of reported adverse events in the trials. Amphotericin B deoxycholate should not be used (DII); and fluconazole was rated CI because of a change in epidemiology in some areas in Europe. Removal of central venous catheters is recommended during candidaemia but if catheter retention is a clinical necessity, treatment with an echinocandin is an option (CII(t) ). In chronic disseminated candidiasis therapy, recommendations are liposomal amphotericin B for 8 weeks (AIII), fluconazole for >3 months or other azoles (BIII). Granulocyte transfusions are only an option in desperate cases of patients with Candida disease and neutropenia (CIII).

Optimised radiological diagnosis of hepatic fungal infection during the treatment of leukemia

Hepatic fungal infection is a frequent complication in patients receiving intensive chemotherapy for acute leukaemia. Hepatic lesions may be detected using computerised tomographic (CT) scans, but there is no standardised CT protocol for the diagnosis and follow-up of hepatic fungal infection. We therefore retrospectively analysed the number and the volume of hepatic fungal lesions in 24 CT of 20 consecutive patients treated for acute leukaemia during late-arterial and porto-venous phase. The mean number of lesions per patient was 31 (range: 3-105) in the late-arterial and 26 (3-81) in the porto-venous CT (P = 0.026). The mean total volume of all lesions was 6.45 ml in the late-arterial and 4.07 ml in the porto-venous CT representing a 1.6fold difference between the two CT scans (P = 0.008). The total volume of the lesions negatively correlated to the absolute contrast difference between liver parenchyma and liver vein (Pearson correlation, r = -0.62; P = 0.002). In conclusion, the late-arterial CT provides a superior distinction of hepatic lesions due to a delayed perfusion of the outer rim of the fungal lesions resulting in an extended visibility. The late-arterial CT is superior to the porto-venous CT for initial diagnosis and follow-up of hepatic fungal infection.

Diagnosis of invasive fungal infections in hematology and oncology--guidelines from the Infectious Diseases Working Party in Haematology and Oncology of the German Society for Haematology and Oncology (AGIHO)

Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) are a primary cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with hematological malignancies. Establishing a definite diagnosis of IFI in immunocompromised patients is particularly challenging and time consuming, but delayed initiation of antifungal treatment increases mortality. The limited overall outcome has led to the strategy of initiating either 'empirical' or 'preemptive' antifungal therapy before the final diagnosis. However, diagnostic procedures have been vastly improved in recent years. Particularly noteworthy is the introduction of newer imaging techniques and non-culture methods, including antigen-based assays, metabolite detection and molecular detection of fungal DNA from body fluid samples. Though varying widely in cancer patients, the risk of IFI is highest in those with allogeneic stem cell transplantation and those with acute leukemia. The AGIHO presents recommendations for the diagnosis of IFIs with risk-adapted screening concepts for febrile episodes in patients with haemato-oncological disorders.

Clinical characteristics of hepatosplenic fungal infection in pediatric patients

BACKGROUND

Hepatosplenic fungal infection (HSF) is a distinct form of invasive fungal infection with main involvement of the liver, spleen, and occasionally the kidney. In this study, we investigated the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with HSF in childhood.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed pediatric patients with the diagnosis of HSF in a tertiary medical center in Taiwan between July 1999 and June 2009. The definition of HSF included imaging studies demonstrating multiple focal lesions in the liver and/or spleen with or without a microbiologic evidence for fungal infection. The clinical characteristics and outcomes were analyzed.

RESULTS

We identified 15 pediatric patients with HSF. Eleven patients had diagnosis of hemato-oncologic malignancy, and two patients had severe aplastic anemia. All patients had fever, and most patients had abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and hepatosplenomegaly. The detection rate of computed tomography scan (15/15, 100%) was superior to abdominal sonography (10/15, 67%, p = 0.01). Ten (91%) of the 11 patients with microbiologic evidence were infected by Candida species. Neither recurrence nor breakthrough fungal infection was noted when the patients underwent further chemotherapy and stem cell transplantation. Six patients (40%) died before the end of the study, but no mortality was directly related to HSF.

CONCLUSION

Candida species was the major pathogen for HSF, and computed tomography scan was a good diagnostic tool to detect the multiple focal lesions. Under adequate antifungal treatment, HSF could be cured without recurrence in spite of further chemotherapy and stem cell transplantation.

Fungal Liver Infection in Immunocompromised Patients: Depiction with Multiphasic Contrast-enhanced Helical CT

PURPOSE

To retrospectively assess multiphasic (nonenhanced, arterial phase, and portal venous phase) computed tomography (CT) of the liver for depiction of hepatic fungal infection in immunocompromised patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The institutional ethics review board approved the study and waived the requirement for informed consent. Sixty multiphasic hepatic CT examinations were performed in 39 immunocompromised patients who fulfilled the criteria for having probable or proved fungal liver infection. The detection and conspicuity of focal liver lesions were assessed on scans obtained during each CT phase. The lesion enhancement pattern was determined, and, accordingly, lesions were stratified into two groups: lesions suggestive of infection (with ring enhancement patterns or high attenuation) and nonspecific hypoattenuating lesions. Statistical analyses were performed by using logistic regression with generalized estimating equations.

RESULTS

A total of 536 liver lesions detected at 36 CT examinations with results positive for fungal infection were assessed. All 36 (100%) examinations yielded positive results during the arterial phase, whereas 25 (69%) of them yielded positive results during the portal venous phase (P < .001). At lesion-by-lesion analysis, the arterial phase scans depicted significantly more lesions (483 of 536 [90%]) than the portal venous phase (329 of 536 [61%]) and nonenhanced (265 of 465 [57%]) scans (P < .001 for both comparisons). In addition, on arterial phase scans, 386 of 483 lesions, as compared with 134 of 329 lesions on portal venous phase scans (P < .001), were judged to have an enhancement pattern suggestive of infection. The CT phases did not differ significantly in terms of the conspicuity of detected lesions.

CONCLUSION

In patients suspected of having hepatic fungal infection, arterial phase CT depicts significantly more hepatic lesions than does CT performed during the other phases, and it reveals more lesions with enhancement patterns suggestive of infection. Arterial phase CT should be performed in addition to portal venous phase CT in patients suspected of having hepatic fungal infection.

Successful Treatment of Chronic Disseminated Candidiasis with Caspofungin and Itraconazole in a Patient with Progressive Acute Leukemia and Prolonged Neutropenia

Severe fungal infections remain a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in neutropenic patients undergoing dose-intensive chemotherapy for malignant diseases. Chronic disseminated candidiasis (CDC) is a life-threatening complication in neutropenic patients because of the lack of responsive hematopoietic precursor cells. Resolution of Candida organ lesions after hematopoietic reconstitution may take months. Here, we report the case of a 19-year-old neutropenic woman with relapsed acute myelogenous leukemia and candidiasis of liver, spleen, and kidneys. Antifungal treatment was initiated using fluconazole and caspofungin but was changed to itraconazole and caspofungin. Despite elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and detectable Candida organ lesions, antileukemic therapy was restarted with interleukin 2 at the same time as antimicrobial treatment. Eight weeks after the start of interleukin therapy, CRP levels and organ lesions were decreased significantly irrespective of continuing neutropenia. This case report describes the successful treatment of CDC during neutropenia using combination antifungal therapy and suggests controlled studies to establish optimal therapeutic strategies.

Treatment of fungal infections in hematology and oncology--guidelines of the Infectious Diseases Working Party (AGIHO) of the German Society of Hematology and Oncology (DGHO)

The Infectious Diseases Working Party of the German Society of Haematology and Oncology presents their guidelines for the treatment of fungal infections in patients with hematological and oncological malignancies. These guidelines are evidence-based, considering study results, case reports and expert opinions, using the evidence criteria of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA). The recommendations for major fungal complications in this setting are summarized here. The primary choice of therapy for chronic candidiasis should be fluconazole, reserving caspofungin or amphotericin B (AmB) for use in case of progression of the Candida infection. Patients with candidemia (except C. krusei or C. glabrata) who are in a clinically stable condition without previous azole prophylaxis should receive fluconazole, otherwise AmB or caspofungin. Voriconazole is recommended for the first-line treatment of invasive aspergillosis. The benefit of a combination of AmB and 5-flucytosine has not been demonstrated except in patients with cryptococcal meningitis. Mucormycosis is relatively rare. The drug therapy of choice consists of AmB, desoxycholate or liposomal formulation, in the highest tolerable dosage. Additional surgical intervention has been shown to achieve a lower fatality rate than with antifungal therapy alone. The role of interventional strategies, cytokines/G-CSF, and granulocyte transfusions in invasive fungal infections are further reviewed. These guidelines offer actual standards and discussions on the treatment of oropharyngeal and esophageal candidiasis, invasive candidiasis, cryptococcosis and mould infections.

Fungal infections in nontransplant patients with hematologic malignancies

Fungal infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with hematologic malignancies. Candida and Aspergillus species are the most important opportunistic fungal pathogens in this patient population. Dimorphic fungi can cause serious infection in immunocompetent persons, but infection is more likely to be disseminated in patients with compromised cell-mediated immunity. Cryptococcus neoformans and Pneumosystis carinii typically cause infections in persons with severe T-cell suppression. The frequency of rare pathogenic fungi commonly resistant to amphotericin B has significantly increased over the past 20 years among patients with hematologic malignancies. Examples of such emerging pathogens include Trichosporon, Fusarium, and Scedosporium species, and dark-walled molds. This article reviews the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnostic evaluation, and treatment of the major fungal pathogens in nontransplant patients with hematologic malignancies.

Hepatosplenic candidiasis. A manifestation of chronic disseminated candidiasis

Much progress has been made over the last decade in diagnosing and treating CDC, a chronic and debilitating infection that interferes with the delivery of intensive cytotoxic chemotherapy in patients with leukemia. The use of fluconazole prophylaxis in these patients has decreased the incidence of CDC dramatically. The greatest future challenges are gaining a better understanding of its pathophysiology, and the continued development of effective diagnostic and therapeutic strategies to treat this unusual manifestation of systemic candidiasis.