F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography image of gastric mucormycosis mimicking advanced gastric cancer: A case report

Abstract

BACKGROUND Mucormycosis is a very rare fungal infection, and its prognosis is poor. Most common sites of infection are the sinuses, lung, or skin, and gastric involvement is uncommon. The standard antifungal therapy is the treatment of choice for gastric mucormycosis. However, the symptoms of gastric mucormycosis are varied and the early diagnosis is not easy.

CASE SUMMARY I report a 53-year-old alcoholic man, who was admitted due to epigastric pain. The upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed a huge ulcer lesion in the stomach, which was suspected to be gastric cancer. F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (F-18 FDG PET/CT) showed diffusely intense FDG uptake at the ulcer lesion of the stomach, and several enlarged hypermetabolic lymph nodes were noted at the left gastric chain. Although, endoscopy and F-18 FDG PET/CT findings suggested advanced gastric cancer with regional lymph node metastases, there was no cancer cells in the biopsy results and multiple fungal hyphae were noted in the periodic acid-Schiff stained image.

CONCLUSION He was diagnosed with gastric mucormycosis and successfully underwent amphotericin B and posaconazole treatment.