Rhinocerebral mucormycosis in a boy with recurrent acute lymphoblastic leukemia: long-term survival with systemic antifungal treatment

J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2002 Aug-Sep;24(6):492-4. doi: 10.1097/00043426-200208000-00017.

Abstract

Rhinocerebral mucormycosis is rare in hematologic malignancies and usually leads to death within weeks. In contrast, chronic rhinocerebral mucormycosis takes a slowly progressive course and has not been reported in hematologic malignancies in children so far. The authors report the long-term survival of a boy with rhinocerebral mucormycosis in a relapse of acute lymphoblastic leukemia after allogeneic cord blood transplantation. The disease started acutely but took a chronic course thereafter. No surgical debridement was performed because of extensive involvement of the sinuses, orbits, and cerebrum. His long-term survival of 15 months is attributed to the long-range administration of liposomal amphotericin B, early neutrophil recovery, and slow progression of the relapsing acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Amphotericin B / therapeutic use*
  • Antifungal Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Brain Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Brain Diseases / microbiology
  • Brain Diseases / mortality
  • Cord Blood Stem Cell Transplantation
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Liposomes
  • Male
  • Mucormycosis / drug therapy*
  • Mucormycosis / microbiology
  • Mucormycosis / mortality
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local
  • Paranasal Sinus Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Paranasal Sinus Diseases / microbiology
  • Paranasal Sinus Diseases / mortality
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / complications*
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / microbiology
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / therapy
  • Transplantation, Homologous

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • Liposomes
  • Amphotericin B