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An atypical case of fatal zygomycosis: simultaneous cutaneous and laryngeal infection in a patient with a non-neutropenic solid prostatic tumor.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Johnson, KE; Leahy, K; Owens, C; Blankson, JN; Merz, WG; Goldstein, BJ
Published in: Ear Nose Throat J
March 2008

We describe what we believe is the first reported case of simultaneous highly invasive cutaneous and laryngopharyngeal zygomycosis in a non-neutropenic, nondiabetic but immunosuppressed patient with prostate cancer. An invasive fungal process was not suspected until late in the patient's hospital course; when it was, a tracheotomy and direct laryngoscopic biopsies were performed. Unresectable invasive zygomycosis with Rhizopus rhizopodiformis was diagnosed. The patient was managed with liposomal amphotericin B initially and later with palliative medical therapy until he died. This case emphasizes the need for a rapid and specific diagnosis with timely introduction of appropriate antifungal management, particularly now that voriconazole is frequently used as empiric prophylaxis against aspergillosis in high-risk patients.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Ear Nose Throat J

ISSN

0145-5613

Publication Date

March 2008

Volume

87

Issue

3

Start / End Page

152 / 155

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Rhizopus
  • Prostatic Neoplasms
  • Pharyngeal Diseases
  • Otorhinolaryngology
  • Mucormycosis
  • Male
  • Laryngeal Diseases
  • Immunocompromised Host
  • Humans
  • Fatal Outcome
 

Citation

APA
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ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Johnson, K. E., Leahy, K., Owens, C., Blankson, J. N., Merz, W. G., & Goldstein, B. J. (2008). An atypical case of fatal zygomycosis: simultaneous cutaneous and laryngeal infection in a patient with a non-neutropenic solid prostatic tumor. Ear Nose Throat J, 87(3), 152–155.
Johnson, Kristine E., Kevin Leahy, Christopher Owens, Joel N. Blankson, William G. Merz, and Bradley J. Goldstein. “An atypical case of fatal zygomycosis: simultaneous cutaneous and laryngeal infection in a patient with a non-neutropenic solid prostatic tumor.Ear Nose Throat J 87, no. 3 (March 2008): 152–55.
Johnson KE, Leahy K, Owens C, Blankson JN, Merz WG, Goldstein BJ. An atypical case of fatal zygomycosis: simultaneous cutaneous and laryngeal infection in a patient with a non-neutropenic solid prostatic tumor. Ear Nose Throat J. 2008 Mar;87(3):152–5.
Johnson KE, Leahy K, Owens C, Blankson JN, Merz WG, Goldstein BJ. An atypical case of fatal zygomycosis: simultaneous cutaneous and laryngeal infection in a patient with a non-neutropenic solid prostatic tumor. Ear Nose Throat J. 2008 Mar;87(3):152–155.

Published In

Ear Nose Throat J

ISSN

0145-5613

Publication Date

March 2008

Volume

87

Issue

3

Start / End Page

152 / 155

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Rhizopus
  • Prostatic Neoplasms
  • Pharyngeal Diseases
  • Otorhinolaryngology
  • Mucormycosis
  • Male
  • Laryngeal Diseases
  • Immunocompromised Host
  • Humans
  • Fatal Outcome