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CASE REPORT
Possibilities of using ultrasound for diagnosis of invasive pulmonary mucormycosis – A case study
1
Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Regional Specialized Hospital in Olsztyn, Poland
2
Department of General Surgery and Transplantology, Regional Specialized Hospital in Olsztyn, Poland
3
Department of Pediatric Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Regional Specialized Hospital in Olsztyn, Poland
Submission date: 2016-05-23
Acceptance date: 2016-11-10
Online publication date: 2017-05-05
Publication date: 2020-03-22
Corresponding author
Paweł Grabala
Department of Pediatric Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Regional Specialized Children's Hospital in Olsztyn, Żołnierska 18A, 10-561 Olsztyn, Poland. Tel.: +48 89 675 51 13; fax: +48 775 466 324; mobile: +48 787 111 100.
Department of Pediatric Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Regional Specialized Children's Hospital in Olsztyn, Żołnierska 18A, 10-561 Olsztyn, Poland. Tel.: +48 89 675 51 13; fax: +48 775 466 324; mobile: +48 787 111 100.
Pol. Ann. Med. 2017;24(2):224-227
KEYWORDS
invasive pulmonary mucormycosistransthoracic ultrasonographyhalo signreversed halo signinvasive fungal lung infection
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
Mucormycosis is a rare but highly lethal fungal infection, usually affecting immunocompromised patients.
Aim:
To present and analyze the diagnostic capabilities of transthoracic ultrasonography in invasive pulmonary mucormycosis.
Case study:
We present a case involving a 41-year-old female patient with pneumonia complicated by multisystem organ failure, who was diagnosed with invasive pulmonary mucormycosis.
Results and discussion:
Transthoracic ultrasonography (TUS) revealed a consolidation area of heterogeneous echostructure with an abnormal air bronchogram, possibly suggestive of an invasive pulmonary fungal disorder. The presence of lesions observed with TUS was confirmed by computed tomography (CT). The final diagnosis of mucormycosis was possible after Mucor species fungi were detected in bronchoalveolar lavage culture.
Conclusions:
(1) TUS is a widely available and inexpensive diagnostic method that is characterized by the absence of adverse effects, and its applicability in the diagnosis of pulmonary disorders other than invasive fungal infections is well documented. (2) Ultrasonographic analysis of lesions facilitates differentiation between bacterial and fungal pneumonia, and the high sensitivity and specificity of the procedure compared to CT scans as a reference method supports the reliability of ultrasound scans in the diagnosis of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA). (3) The use of TUS in the diagnosis of invasive pulmonary mucormycosis appears warranted, particularly in cases when it is impossible to obtain a proven diagnosis. (4) Ultrasonographic diagnosis of invasive lung disorders, including mucormycosis, requires further studies.
Mucormycosis is a rare but highly lethal fungal infection, usually affecting immunocompromised patients.
Aim:
To present and analyze the diagnostic capabilities of transthoracic ultrasonography in invasive pulmonary mucormycosis.
Case study:
We present a case involving a 41-year-old female patient with pneumonia complicated by multisystem organ failure, who was diagnosed with invasive pulmonary mucormycosis.
Results and discussion:
Transthoracic ultrasonography (TUS) revealed a consolidation area of heterogeneous echostructure with an abnormal air bronchogram, possibly suggestive of an invasive pulmonary fungal disorder. The presence of lesions observed with TUS was confirmed by computed tomography (CT). The final diagnosis of mucormycosis was possible after Mucor species fungi were detected in bronchoalveolar lavage culture.
Conclusions:
(1) TUS is a widely available and inexpensive diagnostic method that is characterized by the absence of adverse effects, and its applicability in the diagnosis of pulmonary disorders other than invasive fungal infections is well documented. (2) Ultrasonographic analysis of lesions facilitates differentiation between bacterial and fungal pneumonia, and the high sensitivity and specificity of the procedure compared to CT scans as a reference method supports the reliability of ultrasound scans in the diagnosis of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA). (3) The use of TUS in the diagnosis of invasive pulmonary mucormycosis appears warranted, particularly in cases when it is impossible to obtain a proven diagnosis. (4) Ultrasonographic diagnosis of invasive lung disorders, including mucormycosis, requires further studies.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
None declared.
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