Cunninghamella bertholletiae and Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia as a fatal complication of chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

A unique patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia died with pneumonia caused by both Cunninghamella bertholletiae and Pneumocystis carinii. In tissue sections, the hyphae of C bertholletiae were twisted and ribbon-like, but were smaller than those typical for zygomycetes, displayed more than occasional septa, and exhibited Y branching, making histologic distinction from Aspergillus sp difficult.