ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the clinical features,radiology,diagnosis and treatment of postkidney-transplant pulmonary mucormycosis.Method Three cases of post-kidney-transplant pulmonary mucormycosis were successfully diagnosed by histopathologic examinations.The clinical features of the cases were analyzed.The patients consisted of 2 males and 1 female,aged 39 to 54 yearn All patients were subjected to renal transplantation due to uremia,one was complicated with with diabetes,and pulmonary mucormycosis occurred 6 months,2 years and 6 years after kidney transplant respectively.Fever,cough,bloody sputum and chest pain were the main clinical manifestations.Multiple irregular massive or diffuse infiltrates in the lungs were the early CT findings.In a shoot time,multiple thick-walled cavities occurred in the pulmonary lesions.Pleural effusion was found in one patient.The lung specimens of patients were obtained by CT-guided percutaneous biopsy.Result The first patiem was cured after one year therapy by hraconazole,but recurred after 8 months.The second patient had a marked effect after a 21-day therapy by Itraconazole,but died of disseminated mucor for excessive immunosuppressant against the renal transplantation rejection.The third patient also had a marked effect,and was still in follow up.Condusion The post-kidney-transplant pulmonary mucormycosis is difficult in diagnosis and treatment.CT-guided percutaneous biopsy is one of effective ways for diagnosis.Itraconazole appears to be effective in treatment of pulmonary mucormycosis.Early diagnosis and an appropriate immune ftmction are the keys to improve prognosis and reduce recurrence
ABSTRACT
Objective To improve the understanding of pulmonary mucormycosis by analyzing the clinical manifestations,imaging features,diagnosis,treatment and prognosis of this disease.Methods The clinical data of eight patients diagnosed as pulmonary mucormycosis by histopathologic examination were retrospectively analyzed.Results Eight patients included six males and two females with age from 36 days to 66 years.Underlying conditions covered diabetes (n =4),renal transplantation (n =3),premature (n =1) and long-term corticosteroid treatment in two cases.Imaging manifestations revealed multiple irregular lumps or nodules in three cases,multiple cavities with thick wall in three cases,diffuse lung infiltrate in one case and lung opacities in one case.The diagnoses of seven patients were confirmed by percutaneous needle lung biopsy and the remaining one was diagnosed with fiberoptic bronchoscopy biopsy.Surgery combined with amphotericin B liposome(60 mg/d for three weeks)was applied to one patient who was cured with no recurrence after a 22 month follow-up.Three cases were given amphotericin B liposome (a newborn with 7mg/d for 62 days,the other two 60 mg/d for 31 days and 70 mg/d for 71 days respectively).All had achieved marked response with follow up from 8 to 29 months,but one patient relapsed and died of recurrent lung mucormycosis.The other three patients were treated with itraconazole 400-200 mg/d from 21 days to 1 year with duration of follow up from 1 month to 20 months.One patient was not evaluable due to missing.Two patients relapsed and one died.Conclusion Pulmonary mucormycosis is difficult to diagnose and treat with a high mortality.Percutaneous tranthoracic lung biopsy is a useful diagnostic method.Amphotericin B liposome or itraconazole may be active against mucus.Early control of causes is essential to improve the prognosis and reduce the recurrence in patients with pulmonary mucormycosis.