Journal List > Korean J Hematol > v.41(2) > 1032661

Moon, Choi, Shin, Chung, Song, Han, Park, Kim, Kim, and Cho: A Case of an Untreated Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patient with Invasive Aspergillosis that Developed at the Colon

Abstract

Invasive aspergillosis needs to be paid extra attention to these day since chemotherapy and stem cell transplantation bring about immune suppression. The lung is the main portal of entry and once involved, invasive aspergillosis may be delivered by hematogenous spread into the central nervous system, liver, spleen, gut and adrenal gland. However infections through the gastrointestinal track are not common. In these cases, abdominal pain and diarrhea can be the major symptoms and amphotericin B is the treatment of choice. We report here on a patient with untreated acute myeloid leukemia who suffered from bloody diarrhea without any lung lesion; this patient had ulcer close to cecum on colonoscopy, and then he was diagnosed as suffering with aspergillosis with H&E staining and PAS staining on the biopsy specimen.

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Fig. 1
On the cecum, 0.6cm sized ulcer with whitish exudates and erosions were noted.
kjh-41-115f1.tif
Fig. 2
In the underlying mucosa and submucosa, there are many septated hyphaes with necrotic material. (A) H&E stain (×40), (B) H&E stain (×100), (C) H&E stain (×400).
kjh-41-115f2.tif
Fig. 3
After 2 weeks of amphotericin B medication, ulcer and erosions were much improved and small flare was remained.
kjh-41-115f3.tif
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