Survival after isolated cerebral mucormycosis.

Cerebral mucormycosis is a rare disorder caused by several genera of the family Mucoraceae. The genera Rhizopus, Absidia, and Mucor are the predominant pathogenic groups. Disease caused by these organisms usually complicates an underlying chronic illness, such as diabetes mellitus or malignancy. Cerebral involvement usually occurs from an ascending infection from the paranasal sinuses via the orbit and is usually associated with poorly controlled diabetes. The pulmonary system is the most common site of infection in patients with leukemia. Isolated cerebral mucormycosis not associated with head trauma or intravenous drug abuse is a rare disorder. We report what we believe to be the first successfully treated case of isolated cerebral mucormycosis in a patient with acute lymphocytic leukemia in remission.