Pathology teach and tell disseminated candidiasis in an infant with acute myeloid leukemia without prior chemotherapy

Abstract

Opportunistic fungal infections are significant problems for neutropenic patients who are undergoing cytotoxic therapy for acute leukemia. Systemic and hepatosplenic candidiasis have been reported in acute leukemic patients who are on chemotherapy. Gastrointestinal tract involvement is a rare phenomenon in disseminated candidiasis, especially in acute leukemia. We report one such rare case of acute myeloid leukemia in an infant who died of disseminated candidiasis with gastrointestinal tract involvement prior to the institution of chemotherapy.