Gastric mucormycosis with splenic invasion a rare abdominal complication of COVID-19 pneumonia.

Abstract

Mucormycosis (previously called zygomycosis or phycomycosis) is an uncommon opportunistic infection with the gastrointestinal form being the rarest occurrence and one of the most lethal infections known to humanity. The most common risk factors predisposing to develop gastric mucormycosis are uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, stem cell transplantation, or underlying any hematologic malignancy and major trauma. Pain abdomen, hematemesis, and melena are common symptoms which the patient presents. The exact diagnosis of gastric mucormycosis can be missed due rarity of the disease. A high level of suspicion is required in the early diagnosis and management of disease, particularly in immunocompromised patients. The radiological imaging modalities such as CT scan or MRI of the abdomen initially usually reveal non-specific findings such as mucosal wall thickening, mass, and reactive lymphadenopathy and prompt additional investigation with endoscopic or surgical biopsy of the lesions. The disease outcome and mortality are very high with gastrointestinal mucormycosis.