Invasive candidal enterocolitis followed shortly by fatal cerebral hemorrhage in immunocompromised patients

Two immunocompromised adult patients (male, 43 years of age; female, 50 years of age) are described who developed unusual and similarly unique complications. After chemotherapy, both presented with abdominal pain and severe bloody diarrhea. Initial blood cultures were negative, and abdominal CT showed pneumatosis and thickening of colonic wall. Colonoscopy showed severe right-sided colitis. Relentless bloody diarrhea necessitated emergency right hemicolectomy in both cases. Pathologic examination of the specimens showed extensive and severe hematogenous Candida enterocolitis. Both patients died of acute cerebral hemorrhage within 3 days of hemicolectorny. Autopsy, performed on 1 of the 2 cases, showed diffuse severe cerebritis and cerebral hemorrhage secondary to hematogenous invasive candidiasis. This sequence of events is not documented in the English literature on candidal enterocolitis, which is reviewed.