[Excavated pulmonary opacity in diabetes].
ANNALES D'ENDOCRINOLOGIE 2009;
70:137-40. [PMID:
19201393 DOI:
10.1016/j.ando.2008.11.001]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2008] [Revised: 11/13/2008] [Accepted: 11/18/2008] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Mucormycosis or zygomycosis is a group of infections caused by filamentous fungi of the mucorales order belonging to the zygomycetes family. They generally appear in patients with uncontrolled diabetes or immunodepression, especially neutropenic immunodepression. Incidence has increased with progress in immunosuppressive therapy and chemotherapy and the absence of the use of antifungal prophylactic agents effective against mucors. We report the case of a diabetic patient presenting with an excavated opacity in the right lung which failed to improve after receiving non-specific antibiotic treatment. Direct examination of the bronchial washing specimen led to the diagnosis of pulmonary mucormycosis. Prognosis depends mainly on early diagnosis, enabling appropriate treatment with amphotericin B. Mortality remains high, around 80%; diagnosis is commonly established post-mortem.
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