AIR CRESCENT SIGN AND FATAL HEMOPTYSIS IN PULMONARY MUCORMYCOSIS

A case of invasive pulmonary mucormycosis complicated by fatal, massiv e haemoptysis in a patient with acute myeloid leukaemia is reported. T his patient represents the twelfth reported case of fatal haemoptysis due to mucormycosis. The other 11 cases are reviewed and the aetiology of cavity formation and massive haemoptysis is discussed. The develop ment of the air crescent sign on chest radiograph is an important clin ical indicator of potentially fatal haemoptysis and should lead to app ropriate antifungal and surgical therapy.