Ocular Rhinosporidiosis in a Nigerian Child: A Case Report and Literature Review from Niger Delta of Nigeria

Abstract

Aim:The aim of this report is to raise the awareness of the existence of this rare ocular affliction in our locality and to highlight the importance of routine histopathological diagnosis of ocular mass lesions. Case Presentation: An 11 year old male school child presented to our centre with a 9 months history of a fleshy growth which bleeds spontaneously, on the inner aspect of the right upper eyelid. Other parts of both eyes including the left eye lid were normal A provisional diagnosis of squamous cell papilloma of the conjunctiva was made and the patient underwent an excisional biopsy of the lesion. Microscopic sections of the mass showed hyperplastic polypoid lesion with numerous globular cysts within the subepithelia conjunctiva with a surrounding of heavy inflammatory reaction composed of lymphocytes, plasma cells and neutrophils. A histopathological diagnosis of conjunctival rhinosporidiosis was made. Discussion: Rhinosporidiosis is a chronic localized granulomatous infection caused by an aquatic Case Study

Conjunctival Rhinosporidiosis in an Ethiopian Child: A Case Report

“…In the age group of 11–20 years, roughly 7% of patients have a conjunctival source of the disease. 14 , 15 It primarily affects young male patients, though a Nepalese study found that the prevalence is higher among children in their first decade of life. 16 The route of transmission is unknown, however it is thought to be acquired by contact with injured epithelium by the causative organism, which usually occurs in an aquatic environment.…”