Human nasal rhinosporidiosis: an Italian case report

Abstract

Background: Rhinosporidiosis is a disease affecting primarily the mucosa of nose, conjunctiva and urethra. It is endemic in some Asiatic regions, affecting people of any age and sex. Its manifestation is a polypoid mass growing inside the affected cavity and the only treatment is surgical excision. Rhinosporidium seeberi is the aetiological agent. Many discussions arouse regarding the taxonomic classification of the microorganism, recent studies established it is an aquatic protistan parasite. The lesion may recur and sometimes cause osteolytic bone lesions. In endemic areas it is not easy to establish if recurrent lesions are due to relapse or reinfection.

Osseous involvement in rhinosporidiosis

“…C. immitis is cultivable and stains with mucicarmine. Further, paucity of eosinophils or eosinophic precipitates ( Splendorr-Hoeppli phenonmenon ) contrasts rhinosporidiosis with opportunistic, mycelial or deep mycosis 1415…”

Clinicopathological study of rhinosporidiosis with special reference to cytodiagnosis

“…Rupture of sporangia can cause giant cell reaction. [46] Commonly invasive mycoses produce Splendore-Hoeppli reaction characterized by well-developed eosinophilic infiltration in the infected tissue. But rhinosporidiosis is characterized by absence of this reaction, and tissue infiltrate is almost devoid of eosinophils.…”

“…[14] Thick-walled sporangia and endospores stain positively with various special stains like PAS, mucicarmine (as used in our study), Gomori's methenamine-silver, Grocott's stain, etc. [4615] Mucicarmine stain is particularly helpful in differentiating Coccidioides immitis as sporangia and spores of this organism do not stain positively. Coccidiomycotic lesions can cause confusion with rhinosporidiosis during cytological as well as histopathological evaluation, as the former has similar mature stages represented by large, thick-walled spherical structures containing endospores.…”

“…Final diagnosis was achieved by demonstration of thick-walled sporangia containing numerous endospores in a background of fibrovascular stroma [Figure 2a and b], in accordance with the findings of previous workers. [6]. …”

Rhinosporidiosis: A Riddled Disease of Man and Animals

“…Moreover, it is very interesting in such cases to follow the clinical course: an eventual recurrence of the lesion in our patient would mean a true relapse, excluding the possibility of a reinfection, more probable in the endemic areas (Morelli et al, 2006). As the habitat of R. seeberi is identified as ground water, people who use these sources either for swimming or drinking purposes should be free from injuries as the pathogen gains entry through wounds (Kaluarachchi et al, 2008).…”