Benign gastric ulcer associated with Candida infection in a healthy adult

A case of benign gastric ulcer associated with Candida infection in a healt hy adult is reported. The patient was a 46-year-old man complaining of epig astralgia. Endoscopic examination of the upper digestive tract revealed an elevated lesion with ulceration having an unclear border and thick exudates . The clinical diagnosis based on endoscopic findings was a benign gastric ulcer; however biopsy was performed to distinguish it from malignant lympho ma. Histological examination of biopsy samples obtained from the base and t he edge of the ulcer revealed numerous Candida. Therefore, the patient was diagnosed with Candida-infected gastric ulcer. The ulcer resolved after the administration of antiulcer drugs for 2 months. Predisposing factors for f ungal infection were excluded. These observations suggest that, Candida-inf ected gastric ulcer should be suspected in patients with a gastric submucos al tumor-like lesion with a thick, yellowish-white coated ulcer of unclear border on its summit, and this lesion should be distinguished from malignan t diseases.