Brain mucormycosis in a child with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Shahla Ansari Damavandi; Shadi Adib; Neda Ashayeri

doi:10.1016/j.radcr.2021.06.049

Brain mucormycosis in a child with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Radiol Case Rep. 2021 Jul 23;16(9):2808-2811. doi: 10.1016/j.radcr.2021.06.049. eCollection 2021 Sep.

Authors

Shahla Ansari Damavandi¹, Shadi Adib², Neda Ashayeri³

Affiliations

¹ Professor of Pediatrics, Department of Hematology-Oncology, Ali Asghar Children's Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR.
² Resident of Pediatrics, Department of Hematology-Oncology, Ali Asghar Children's Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR.
³ Fellowship of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Hematology-Oncology, Ali Asghar Children's Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR.

Abstract

This article reports a rare case of Brain Mucormycosis in a 12 year-old girl who presented with relapse Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). On the 12th day of chemotherapy, although there was no CNS symptoms, the second Lumbar Puncture (LP) revealedmthe CNS relapse which developed to Into brain abscess presenting with right side hemiparesis. The brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the brain biopsy revealed small, multifocal necrosis and acute inflammation with septal fungal hyphae branching, which was proven to be caued by Mucormycosis according to Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). The patient responded to treatment with intravenous liposomal Amohotericin B and Caspofungin after two months, suggesting that Brain Mucormycosis in ALL cases can be managed with sequential therapy by antifungals.

Keywords: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia; Brain abscess; Mucormycosis.

Publication types

Case Reports