Cutaneous mucormycosis with subsequent visceral dissemination in a child with neutropenia: a case report and review of the pediatric literature.

Abstract

Primary cutaneous mucormycosis is a rare opportunistic fungal infection that is usually limited to the skin. We describe a primary cutaneous Rhizopus infection occurring at a site occluded by a sterile adhesive dressing in which the disease was viscerally disseminated at the time fo diagnosis. Mucormycosis should be considered in all ecthyma-like lesions in immunocompromised patients. It may be rapidly diagnosed by examination of hematoxylin-eosin and PAS-stained sections of the eschar base and a culture of a leading edge tissue aspirate. We review 21 cases of primary cutaneous mucormycosis in children and compare them with the present case.