ABSTRACT

Invasive mucormycosis is a fungal infection that is rare but has a high mortality rate. It is often seen in immune supressed patients with diabetic ketoacidosis, hematologic malignancy, or those that have undergone stem cell transplantation. Febrile neutropenia, swelling of the right cheek, and a necrotic area in the palate developed during the induction chemotherapy of a three year-old male patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Minor debridements and antifungal treatment was applied, and in the sixth month of the treatment, softening of the right maxillary bone was detected in the same area. From the biopsy sample, Candida tropicalis grew in the culture, and was treated with combined antifungal medicines. This case is presented to emphasize the feasibility of mucor infection treatment via minor debridements and antifungal medicines without any need for major surgery, and also to emphasize that breaktrough fungal infections should not be ignored, in spite of the antifungal medicines that are highly effective and have broad-spectrum.