Cecal infarct - Report of a case

PURPOSE: The purpose of this article is to present a case of an uncommon op portunistic fungal infection that appears in immunologically or metabolical ly compromised patients and is usually fatal. METHOD: A 54-year-old woman W ith an acute lymphoblastic leukemia had acute abdominal pain with peritonea l symptoms during her hospital stay. A laparotomy was performed and a cecal infarct firmly adherent to about 30 cm of infiltrated jejunal loop was dis covered. RESULTS: Microscopic studies revealed an infiltration of the jejun al wall by abnormal lymphocytes. The cecal and ileal walls were infiltrated by leukocytes. Blood vessels were invaded by giant cells and large, unsept ated, right-angle branching hyphea. CONCLUSIONS: These findings were consid ered typical of invasive mucormycosis of the cecum and the terminal ileum.