A Case of Mucormycosis Obstructing the Trachea.

Lee, Seong Won; Ahn, Joong Hyun; Son, Seong Hyun; Kim, Min Jeong; Moon, Hwa Sik; Park, Sung Hak; Song, Jeong Sup

doi:1998.45.5.1087

Tuberc Respir Dis > Volume 45(5); 1998 > Article

Case Report

Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases 1998;45(5):1087-1093.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4046/trd.1998.45.5.1087 Published online October 1, 1998.

A Case of Mucormycosis Obstructing the Trachea.

Seong Won Lee, Joong Hyun Ahn, Seong Hyun Son, Min Jeong Kim, Hwa Sik Moon, Sung Hak Park, Jeong Sup Song

Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

Mucormycosis is the common name given to several different diseases caused by fungi of the order Mucorales. The mucoraceae are ubiquitous fungi and are common inhabitants of decaying matter. In contrast to the widespread distribution of these fungi disease in humans is limited, in most case, to people with severe immunocompromised, diabetes mellitus, or trauma. The fungus gains entry to the body through the respiratory tract. The spores are presumably deposited in the nasal turbinates and may be inhaled into the pulmonary alveoli The manifestations of mucormycosis are rhinocerebral, pulmonary, cutaneous, gastrointestinal, central nervous system, and miscellaneous. Sporadic reports can be found of mucormycosis involving other areas : heart, bones, kidney, bladder, mediastinum, and trachea. However, isolated tracheal mucormycosis is very rare. Therefore, we report a 57-year old, noninsulin dependent diabetic woman who presented with acute, severe degree of upper airway obstruction due to isolated mucormycosis of the trachea.

Key Words: Tracheal mucormycosis, Diabetes mellitus