Invasive mucormycosis in benign gastric ulcer

Fungal elements are frequently noted overlying the base of chronic peptic u lcers of the stomach and it has been suggested that the fungi enhance the d egree of necrosis and that these cases have protracted disease and deeper u lcers with more perforations. It has also been postulated that the number o f fungal elements might be increased in the stomach of patients who are rec eiving potent medications such as H2-receptor antagonists to reduce gastric acidity, but there have not been adequate control studies. and the deleter ious effects from the presence of the fungi in these cases have not been su bstantiated. We present a very rare case of invasive mucormycosis (phycomyc osis) occurring in the base of a chronic gastric ulcer in a 55 years old di abetic male. This case was clinically and radiologically been mistaken for a gastric carcinoma. In addition, the ulcer was complicated by perforation and fungal septicemia with subsequent fatal outcome. The clinical, radiolog ical and histopathological features are described together with a literatur e review of other reported fungal gastric ulcers.