A Case of Acute Myelomonocytic Leukemia with Breast Cancer During Remission, Who Died of Complete A-V Block by Fungeal Abscess

Abstract

A 26 year-old female was diagnosedas acute myelomonocytic leukemia in May, 1977. A complete remission was attained with the chemotherapy consisting of daunorubicin, cytosine arabinoside, 6-MP, and prednisolone. During remission, breast cancer (medullary adenocarcinoma) was complicated in June, 1978. Relapse was observed in September of the year after mastectomy. She was again given various combined chemotherapies with little success.
In July 1979, a rise in body temperature was observed and periproctal abscess by E. coli was diagnosed. Antibiotics were effective for the abscess, but the body temperature rose again. In August, she died because of complete atrioventricular block.
At autopsy, fungeal infection with leukemic infiltration was observed in the conduction system of the heart.