Successful management of hepatic mucormycosis in an acute lymphoblastic leukaemia patient: a case report and review of the literature

Abstract

We present a case of hepatic mucormycosis in a 9-year-old boy with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Despite long-term use of combined liposomal amphotericin B and posaconazole therapy, the lesion persisted and could only be treated by surgical excision. After surgery, antifungal treatment was continued with posaconazole. On follow-up, the patient had two episodes of ascending cholangitis which were responsive to intravenous antibiotics. He is doing well at the moment in remission for 2.5 years. Mucormycosis was long regarded as a fatal infection with poor prognosis. With early medical and surgical management, survival rates increase. Isolated hepatic mucormycosis is rare and only seven cases were reported in the literature up to now. We wanted to emphasise the role of early surgery in patients with hepatic mucormycosis in view of the literature.