Pulmonary Mucormycosis in a Diabetic Patient: Case Report and Literature Review

Abstract

Mucormycosis is a rare but potentially lethal fungal infection caused by Zygomycetes, from the order of Mucorales. It commonly affects immunocompromised patients and those with diabetes mellitus. We reported a 63-year-old woman with poorly-controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus who presented with cough, hemoptysis and body weight loss of 10 kgs, from an original weight of 60 kgs, within 6 months. Chest X-ray and computed tomography both showed a cavitary lesion in the left upper lung field with an air-fluid level and obstructive pneumonitis. A large tissue clump, 0.4×0.4×2.5 cm in size, was aspirated out from the left main bronchus during the bronchoscopic examination, and bronchial biopsy showed extensive tissue necrosis and fungal hyphae characteristic of mucormycosis. After the tissue clump had been removed and there was good blood glucose control, both her clinical symptoms and serial image studies showed rapid improvement. We also reviewed the related literature concerning the epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment of mucormycosis.