Pulmonary Mucormycosis Without Rhinocerebral Involvement: A Case Report

Division

West Florida

Hospital

Citrus Memorial Hospital

Document Type

Case Report

Publication Date

8-22-2026

Keywords

diabetic ketoacidosis, hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state, immunocompromised state, pneumonia, pulmonary mucormycosis

Disciplines

Bacterial Infections and Mycoses | Cardiology | Internal Medicine | Medicine and Health Sciences

Abstract

Mucormycosis is an opportunistic fungal infection that commonly occurs in patients with predisposing conditions, such as poorly controlled diabetes mellitus and immunocompromised states. In patients with diabetes, rhinocerebral disease is more commonly described, whereas isolated pulmonary mucormycosis (PM) is less typical and is more often associated with profound immunocompromise. The presentation in this case was further notable for occurring in the setting of a hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state (HHS) rather than diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), without rhinocerebral involvement. We present the case of a 53-year-old man with type 2 diabetes mellitus treated with insulin who initially presented with cough, fatigue, and generalized malaise and re-presented five days later after a syncopal ground-level fall with right shoulder pain and persistent weakness. He was found to have a HHS and sepsis secondary to pneumonia, with sputum and bronchoalveolar lavage cultures growing

Publisher or Conference

Cureus

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