VOLUME 3 , ISSUE 6 ( November-December, 2024 ) > List of Articles
Kajal Arora, Bhuvana Krishna, Arun Kumar
Keywords : Case report, Gastric perforation, Mucormycosis, Splenic infarction
Citation Information : Arora K, Krishna B, Kumar A. A Rare Presentation of Abdominal Mucormycosis with Gastric Perforation and Splenic Infarction: A Case Report and Review of Literature. 2024; 3 (6):172-175.
DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-11006-0138
License: CC BY-NC 4.0
Published Online: 19-10-2024
Copyright Statement: Copyright © 2024; The Author(s).
Aim and background: Mucormycosis is a rare and often fatal opportunistic illness that is more common in immunocompromised patients. Involvement of the gastrointestinal tract is uncommon, accounting for only 7% of all reported cases. Here, we present an unusual manifestation with gastric perforation and splenic infarction due to a splenic artery mycotic thrombus, along with a literature review. Case description: A 40-year-old female with poorly controlled diabetes mellitus presented with acute decompensated heart failure and diabetic ketoacidosis. During her course, she had a significant hemoglobin drop and was diagnosed with multiple necrotic gastric ulcerations with subsequent gastric perforation and splenic infarction. We searched the PubMed and Embase databases with the terms: (splenic infarction) AND (gastric perforation) AND (mucormycosis) till May 2024. To date, six cases have been reported of combined gastric and splenic involvement by mucormycosis. Most of the patients had an underlying immunosuppressive state. Despite combined medical and surgical treatment modalities, only 17% survived the illness. The most common presentation was necrotic ulceration. Conclusion: Due to the disease's rarity, the precise diagnosis of gastric mucormycosis may be delayed. Diligent clinical insight is required for the early diagnosis and management of the disease, especially in immunocompromised patients. Radiological imaging modalities, such as computed tomography (CT) scans or magnetic resonance imaging of the abdomen, generally demonstrate non-specific findings. Additional testing involving endoscopic or surgical biopsies of the lesions is necessary for rapid diagnosis. Clinical significance: The early diagnosis and timely initiation of antifungal therapy can be beneficial in halting the fulminant course of gastrointestinal mucormycosis.