<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>Histoplasmosis is a rare type of fungal infection which may manifest as a respiratory disease or as a disseminated infection. It is common in immunocompromised patients and, in recent times, seen in association with COVID-19. On histopathological examination, many intracellular and extracellular yeast forms are seen, which can be confirmed by fungal stains. Histoplasmosis involving the nasopharyngeal region is quite rare. Till date, only less than 100 cases of pharyngo-laryngeal histoplasmosis have been reported. Such cases are clinico-radiologically easily and frequently mistaken for malignancy. Here, we report a case that initially had COVID-19-like symptoms and later presented with a nasopharyngeal mass clinico-radiologically mistaken as a nasopharyngeal malignancy. The diagnosis was established on histopathological examination and the patient recovered completely with anti-fungal treatment. A high grade of suspicion and thorough histopathological examination, especially in immunocompromised patients, complimented by fungal special stains is quite rewarding as even a disseminated disease is curable.</p>
</abstract>

Histoplasmosis is a rare type of fungal infection which may manifest as a respiratory disease or as a disseminated infection. It is common in immunocompromised patients and, in recent times, seen in association with COVID-19. On histopathological examination, many intracellular and extracellular yeast forms are seen, which can be confirmed by fungal stains. Histoplasmosis involving the nasopharyngeal region is quite rare. Till date, only less than 100 cases of pharyngo-laryngeal histoplasmosis have been reported. Such cases are clinico-radiologically easily and frequently mistaken for malignancy. Here, we report a case that initially had COVID-19-like symptoms and later presented with a nasopharyngeal mass clinico-radiologically mistaken as a nasopharyngeal malignancy. The diagnosis was established on histopathological examination and the patient recovered completely with anti-fungal treatment. A high grade of suspicion and thorough histopathological examination, especially in immunocompromised patients, complimented by fungal special stains is quite rewarding as even a disseminated disease is curable.

Histoplasmosis in nasopharynx clinically mistaken for nasopharyngeal malignancy

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Head and Neck Oncosurgery Department

Romanian Journal of Rhinology

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

{"article-title":"Histoplasmosis in nasopharynx clinically mistaken for nasopharyngeal malignancy"}

Histoplasmosis is a rare type of fungal infection which may manifest as a respiratory disease or as a disseminated infection. It is common in immunocompromised...

Histoplasmosis in nasopharynx clinically mistaken for nasopharyngeal malignancy

Publié en ligne: 22 avr. 2023

Pages: 77 - 82

Reçu: 13 févr. 2023

Accepté: 24 mars 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/rjr-2023-0013

Mots clés
histoplasma, nasopharynx, malignancy, fungus

© 2023 Jaydeep Pol et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Histoplasmosis in nasopharynx clinically mistaken for nasopharyngeal malignancy

Publié en ligne: 22 avr. 2023

Pages: 77 - 82

Reçu: 13 févr. 2023

Accepté: 24 mars 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/rjr-2023-0013

Mots cléshistoplasma, nasopharynx, malignancy, fungus

© 2023 Jaydeep Pol et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Mots clés
histoplasma, nasopharynx, malignancy, fungus