Diagnostic approach of disseminated mucormycosis: A rare case report

Mucormycosis is an angioinvasive infection caused by the ubiquitous filamentous fungi of the order Mucorales. Unlike other fungi that occur mainly in immunocompromized patients, they also can cause a lethal infection in patients who are highly immunocompetent, such as those with diabetes mellitus, as well as in individuals with no underlying primary disease. Based on anatomical predilection, mucormycosis can be divided into five subgroups, namely, rhinocerebral, pulmonary, cutaneous, gastrointestinal, and disseminated mucormycosis. One of the characteristics of Mucorales is their ability to invade blood vessels, leading to thrombosis and necrosis of the involved tissue. The incidence of mucormycosis has recently increased due to the expansion of the at-risk population. Understanding the morphological characteristics and the use of histochemical staining can assist a pathologist in making organism-specific diagnoses. Herein, we report a rare case of disseminated mucormycosis with lung, gastrointestinal, and suggestive renal involvement in a 20-year-old male patient.