Fulminant Angioinvasive Pulmonary Rhizomucorosis in Diabetic Ketoacidosis: a case report

Background Infections by Rhizomucor species are aggressive invasive fungal diseases primarily affecting metabolically compromised hosts. Pulmonary involvement is diagnosticially challenging due to nonspecific clinical and radiological features, often leading to fatal delays. Case presentation We report a rapidly progressive case in a 30-year-old female with undiagnosed diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). Initially mismanaged as community-acquired pneumonia due to misleading serological markers, the patient quickly developed type I respiratory failure. Diagnosis was confirmed via sputum culture and Chest computed tomography angiography (CTA), the latter revealing pathognomonic vascular involvement. Conclusion This case underscores the necessity of a high clinical suspicion for mucormycosis in DKA patients, emphasizing that early etiological identification and prompt antifungal therapy are critical for survival.