[Pulmonary zygomycosis in a diabetic child complicated with thrombus of the left atrial auricle]. / Mucormycose pulmonaire chez une enfant diabétique, compliquée d'un thrombus intra-auriculaire gauche.

ABSTRACT

Mucormycosis is a rare but fatal, opportunistic fungal infection caused by fungi of the order of mucorales in the class of Zygomycetes. Isolated pulmonary mucormycosis is rare and occurs principally in particular conditions, especially in patients with uncontrolled diabetes. The fungi invades the blood vessels and causes distal ischemic necrosis. We report a case in a 13-year-old girl with diabetes mellitus who developed pulmonary zygomycosis complicated with thrombus of the left atrial auricle. The diagnosis of mucormycosis was confirmed by histologic examination of endobronchial biopsies. Combined treatment with systemic amphotericin B and surgery resulted in a favorable outcome. This difficult diagnosis must be raised in diabetic patients with unresponsive lung infections in order to apply early aggressive therapy. Successful management continues to be early diagnosis, followed by systemic antifungal therapy and surgical resection combined with control of the underlying disease.