Abstract

Background : Mucormycosis is a group of life-threatening diseases caused by a fungus of Mucoraceae family and has a higher mortality rate compared to other known fungal infections. Hydatid cyst, caused by Echinococcus, is crucial a health concern in endemic areas and the disease is characterized by slow-growing cysts in liver, lungs, or other organs. In this report, a woman with coexistence of hydatid cyst and Mucormycosis is introduced.
Case Report : The patient was a 52-year-old woman with approximately 6 years’ history of uncontrolled diabetes mellites and hypothyroidism, who presented with cough, sputum and dyspnea 2 months ago. On the initial auscultation of the lungs, there was a decreased sound at the base of the left lung and she had fever. In blood tests, she had a high titer of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and 3+ C-Reactive Protein (CRP). The symptoms in favor of hydatid cyst were observed in lung computed tomography and in pleural needle biopsy, hydatid cyst was confirmed. With this indication, she undergone wedge resection, resection of the left lower lung cyst. Two samples are taken from the cyst side and the pathology report was consistent with Mucormycosis (wide filaments with a 90-degree angle). The patient was immediately treated with liposomal amphotericin for a 4-week period. Lung CT scan was performed before and after treatment. Albendazole was treated in order to treat hydatid cyst. After discharge, the treatment of the patient continued with oral Posaconazole, and after the treatment finalization, the general condition of the patient was good and she did not have any complaints.
Conclusion: In pulmonary diseases that do not respond significantly to surgical treatment (such as hydatid cyst), fungal disease (mucor) must be considered simultaneously. Mucormycosis has more prevalence in patients with uncontrolled diabetes and it is necessary to be considered if these patients were infected to pneumonia and their symptoms did not improve with usual treatments.
key words: Mucormycosis, Cyst Hydatid, Lung Infection, Case Report.