Benign gastric ulcer associated with Candida infection in a healthy adult

A case of benign gastric ulcer associated with Candida infection in a healthy adult is reported. The patient was a 46-year-old man complaining of epigastralgia. Endoscopic examination of the upper digestive tract revealed an elevated lesion with ulceration having an unclear border and thick exudates. The clinical diagnosis based on endoscopic findings was a benign gastric ulcer; however biopsy was performed to distinguish it from malignant lymphoma. Histological examination of biopsy samples obtained from the base and the edge of the ulcer revealed numerous Candida. Therefore, the patient was diagnosed with Candida-infected gastric ulcer. The ulcer resolved after the administration of antiulcer drugs for 2 months. Predisposing factors for fungal infection were excluded. These observations suggest that, Candida-infected gastric ulcer should be suspected in patients with a gastric submucosal tumor-like lesion with a thick, yellowish-white coated ulcer of unclear border on its summit, and this lesion should be distinguished from malignant diseases.