A case of candidal infection of gastric ulcers with characteristic endoscopic findings.

While Candida infection is a common opportunistic infection, Candida-associated gastric lesions are far less frequent. We report a case of gastric ulcers due to candidal infection. A 73-year-old woman had ulcers refractory to treatment with a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) and Helicobacter pylori eradication. Endoscopic findings showed that this case involved 2 gastric ulcers with thick exudate mainly located in the fornix. Biopsy specimens from gastric ulcers revealed numerous Candida forms. The patient was treated with antifungal drugs and the ulcers healed completely on endoscopy. We should draw attention to our observation in elderly patients with gastric ulcers, and if we find gastric ulcers with such characteristic endoscopic findings, candidal infection of gastric ulcers should be considered.