Rhinocerebral mucormycosis in a child with acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a case report.

BACKGROUND

Mucormycosis is a life-threatening fungal infection in patients with predisposing conditions.

CASE REPORT: We report the case of a 7-year-old girl with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and rhinocerebral mucormycosis who successfully completed chemotherapy. The infection with Rhizopus genus was mycologically identified from nasal secretions and therapy was based on amphotericin B with surgical debridement. Chemotherapy was safely continued after resolution of the mycosis and the patient remains in continuous complete remission at 30 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Rhinocerebral mucormycosis in acute lymphoblastic leukemia is manageable with sequential therapy including, amphotericin B, surgery, and risk-adapted chemotherapy.