Appendiceal Perforation and Abdominal Wall Infection Caused by Invasive Mucormycosis in a Child with Acute Leukemia.

Abstract

Gastrointestinal mucormycosis is one of the most difficult forms of the disease to diagnose due to its lack of specific clinical features. It is extremely rare to observe gastrointestinal mucormycosis in pediatric acute leukemia patients undergoing chemotherapy. In this report, we describe a case of a child with acute leukemia who developed invasive mucormycosis, leading to appendiceal perforation and abdominal wall infection. Initially, surgical intervention was delayed due to concerns over exacerbating bone marrow suppression, which ultimately resulted in the progression of the intra-abdominal infection. However, after thorough debridement of the abdominal wall infection and treatment with liposomal amphotericin B, the patient gradually recovered. This case highlights the importance of early and complete debridement of abdominal wall infections and intra-abdominal abscesses to prevent the further spread of mucormycosis, shorten the course of the disease, and improve outcomes.