Mucormycosis in Intestines–An Underdog among Invasive Intestinal Infections

Mucormycosis is an opportunistic invasive fungal infection caused by Mucorales of class Zygomycetes. It is commonly seen in immunosuppressed cases. Gastrointestinal infection (GI) is very uncommon among adults and is diagnosed only on histopathological examination of biopsy or resection specimens. Due to non-specific clinical presentation, intestinal mucormycosis is diagnosed late. We report a series of six cases of intestinal mucormycosis in adults. Three years retrospective analysis of ileal and colonic resection specimens was performed in our tertiary care institute. All the cases had mucosal ulceration and necrosis on microscopic examination and one case also exhibited angioinvasion. Histopathology is the cornerstone of diagnosis and prompt management of invasive mucormycosis which may follow a rapid and fatal course in the absence of timely and optimum management. The clinicians need to keep the possibility of this vasculotropic fungus in mind in all cases presenting with abdominal symptoms.