title: An uncommon case of systemic Mucormycosis associated with spinal cord infarction in a recently diagnosed diabetic.
abstract: Mucormycosis is a relatively rare, opportunistic, invasive infection caused by various members of the Phycomycetes class [from Greek phyko- seaweed; having a plant body], an extensive taxonomy introduced in 1956 to enlarge the class of Zygomycetes. These filamentous fungi have a worldwide distribution and are capable of rapid growth and thermotolerance of human body temperature. Infection typically occurs in seriously compromised patients (i.e. diabetic ketoacidosis, hematologic malignancies, immunosuppressive disorders, end-stage renal disease, solid-organ or bone-marrow transplantation) and can be acute or fulminant, as well as indolent and chronic. In this paper we describe a case of cutaneous mucormycosis that occurred in a 54-year-old diabetic woman and evolved into a disseminated form, leading to an uncommon spinal cord infarction and consequent paraparesis. Our case suggests the importance of suspecting a mucormycosis infection in patients with decompensated diabetes mellitus, even without ketoacidosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giuliani
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mettimano
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Viviani
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scagliusi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bruno
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rotoli
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Savi
mesh_terms: D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007238:Infarction / Q000150:complications*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009091:Mucormycosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000098:blood supply*