Disseminated Rhinosporidiosis with Conjunctival Involvement in an Immunocompromised Patient

Middle East Afr J Ophthalmol. 2017 Jan-Mar;24(1):51-53. doi: 10.4103/meajo.MEAJO_89_15.

Abstract

Rhinosporidiosis is a granulomatous infection of mucocutaneous tissue caused by Rhinosporidium seeberi that most commonly occurs in the nasal cavity. Ocular rhinosporidiosis affects primarily the conjunctiva. Diagnosis of rhinosporidiosis is based on strong clinical suspicion and is confirmed by histopathological examination. We report a rare case of conjunctival rhinosporidiosis in an immunocompromised patient (human immunodeficiency virus) with disseminated cutaneous rhinosporidiosis. A 44-year-old male presented with a swelling in the right upper eyelid for 6 months. Excision biopsy of the ocular lesion showed multiple thick-walled, variable-sized sporangia containing endospores within the subepithelium suggestive of rhinosporidiosis. A multidrug regimen of systemic cycloserine, ketoconazole, and dapsone was administered to treat disseminated rhinosporidiosis, in addition to antiretroviral therapy. There was good response with reduction in the swellings.

Keywords: Conjunctival rhinosporidiosis; Rhinosporidium seeberi; disseminated rhinisporidiosis; immunocompromised.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Biopsy
  • Conjunctiva / parasitology
  • Conjunctiva / pathology*
  • Conjunctival Diseases / parasitology
  • Conjunctival Diseases / pathology*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Eye Infections, Parasitic / diagnosis*
  • Eye Infections, Parasitic / parasitology
  • Humans
  • Immunocompromised Host*
  • Male
  • Rhinosporidiosis / diagnosis*
  • Rhinosporidium / isolation & purification*