ISOLATED PULMONARY MUCORMYCOSIS IN AN IMMUNOCOMPETENT PATIENT

• Autor(es): Santos Silva, João ; Torres, Carolina ; Clemente, Susana ; Calvinho, Paulo
• Data: 2021
• Origem: Portuguese Journal of Cardiac Thoracic and Vascular Surgery
• Tipo de Documento: Artigo científico
• Idioma: Inglês

Descrição

Mucormycosis is a life-threatening fungal infection that occurs mainly in immunocompromised patients. Its occurrence isolated in the lung rare and carries a high mortality risk if untreated. We report the case of a 76-year old male immunocompetent patient, under treatment for pulmonary tuberculosis, admitted to the emergency department with hemoptysis. Bronchoscopy was performed and active bleeding from the middle lobe bronchus was found. Chest CT scan identified a solitary cavitary lesion in the middle lobe. The patient was proposed for urgent open middle lobectomy. Postoperative period was uneventful. Pulmonary mucormycosis was confirmed and adjuvant therapy with Amphotericin B was performed for 30 days. Despite its rarity, mucormycosis prevalence is expected to raise together with increasing number of immunocompromised patients. A high level of suspicion is recommended as early diagnosis can be determinant.