Gastric mucormycosis masquerading as malignancy in an immunocompetent host

ABSTRACT

Mucormycosis is an uncommon, fatal, fungal infection occurring more often in immunocompromised patients. Gastrointestinal mucormycosis is rare, and found primarily in patients with extreme malnutrition. This is a case report of a 76-year-old, well-nourished immunocompetent, non-diabetic male patient, who presented with urinary tract infection, for whom broad-spectrum antibiotics were administered. Reducing haemoglobin levels and occult blood positivity in stools prompted a gastroscopy, which showed a large ulcerated growth in the body of the stomach, suspicious of malignancy. Subsequent biopsy and histopathological examination revealed gastric mucormycosis. The patient was administered intravenous amphotericin B for 6 weeks. Complete recovery followed, as evidenced by a healed ulcer on gastroscopy and no fungal elements on biopsy. Although gastrointestinal mucormycosis has been reported with fatal outcome, our patient had complete recovery with only medical management and no surgical intervention, highlighting the importance of early diagnosis