Fungal splenic abscess

Abstract

Nineteen patients with fungal splenic abscesses included 16 with leukemia, one drug user, one patient with Cushing's syndrome, and one without predisposing causes. Fifteen had persistent fever; six had esophageal or mucocutaneous candidiasis. Abdominal pain occurred in seven patients, splenomegaly occurred in six, and left abdominal mass occurred in one. Three chest x-ray films showed left pleural effusions; two had elevated left hemidiaphragms, two had left-sided infiltrates, and one was normal. Sixteen of 17 technetium Tc 99m sulfur colloid scans were abnormal, as were 15 gallium citrate Ga 67 scans. Two computed tomographic studies revealed splenic defects. Candida was the cause in 15 cases, Aspergillus was the cause in three cases, and Blastomyces dermatitidis was the cause in one case. Sixteen patients underwent splenectomy, 12 receiving postoperative antifungal therapy. Fifteen survived regardless of underlying disease or hepatic microabscesses.