rhinosporidiosis

Etiology

• Rhinosporidium seeberi

Epidemiology

• children & young adults most commonly affected
• disease may occur at any age
• incidence higher in males than females
• history generally significant for exposure to streams or pools
• endemic in India & Sri Lanka
  • infection also occurs in other parts of the world, including Africa & South America

Pathology

• multiple thick-walled sporangia in various stages of maturation, surrounded by dense inflammation (case report)

Clinical manifestations

• polyps or other manifestations of hyperplasia on mucosal surfaces
• pink-purple friable lesion may be visible in polyps
• reddish, friable mucosal polyp, commonly involving the nasal cavity
  • bleeds profusely on touch
  • oropharynx, conjunctiva, rectum, & external genitalia may be affected
• obstruction & bleeding from naris (case report)
  • red, granular, pedunculated, nonpulsatile mass obstructing nasal cavity

* image

Laboratory

• direct examination of polyp for sporangia, indicative of Rhinosporum seebri
• hematoxylin & eosin (H&E) stain
• cultures NOT successful

* histopathology

Management

• excision of mass, cauterize base of lesion

More general terms

• granulomatous disease
• mycosis; fungal infection

Additional terms

• Rhinosporidium seeberi