Unusual histopathology of mucormycosis in acute myelogenous leukemia

V. Mamlok, W. T. Cowan, V. Schnadig

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

Mucormycosis is a mycotic disease caused by certain genera of the class Zygomycetes (order Mucorales). It is usually a rapidly progressive opportunistic infection characterized by vascular invasion, neutrophilic response, and intravascular thromboses. Entomophthoromycosis describes another disease caused by Zycomycetes, but of the order Entophthorales. In contrast to mucormycosis, entomophthoromycosis is not associated with underlying disease. Vascular invasion by the hyphae does not occur, and the hyphae are surrounded by eosinophilic sheathes. These sheathes are regarded as one form of the Splendore-Hoeppli phenomenon. The authors report an unusual case of mucormycosis in a severely pancytopenic patient dying of acute myelogenous leukemia. At autopsy, eosinophilic sheathes with radiating fibrils were seen about intravascular hyphae, simulating entomophthoromycosis. This pseudo-Splendore-Hoeppli phenomenon appears to be caused by adsorption of plasma and fibrin to the hyphal walls in the absence of both neutrophilic response and extensive fibrin clotting.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)117-120
Number of pages4
JournalAmerican journal of clinical pathology
Volume88
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1987
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pathology and Forensic Medicine

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Unusual histopathology of mucormycosis in acute myelogenous leukemia'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this