Abstract

ANTUEL ARACIL, Juan et al. Human rhinosporidiosis of the nasal cavity in Argentina. Medicina (B. Aires) [online]. 2023, vol.83, n.4, pp.639-642. ISSN 0025-7680.

Rhinosporidiosis is an infectious pathology caused by the aquatic protist pathogen Rhinosporidium seeberi that in habits the fresh water of lakes or lagoons and in the soil. It is extremely rare, being endemic in India and Sri Lanka, al though cases have been seen in countries in Europe, Africa and South America. It predominates in young males and affects both humans and animals. It is characterized by the formation of uni- or bilateral reddish polyps, mainly in the nasal cavity. Presenting airway symptoms include obstruc tion, epistaxis, rhinorrhea and foreign body sensation. We report the case of a 22-year-old man from Argentina who presented with nasal ventilatory insufficiency, rhinorrhea and epistaxis. Rhinoscopy revealed a polypoid formation arising from the septal septum and occupying the entire right nostril. Microscopically, the polyp was covered by respiratory and squamous epithelium, and at the stromal level it evidenced a granulomatous chronic inflammatory process with the presence of abundant thick-walled cystic structures between 100 and 500 μm (sporangia), which contained abundant endospores inside. The periodic acid Schiff and Grocott techniques highlighted these structures. Given the clinical-epidemiological background and the morphological picture, the diagnosis of rhinosporidiosis was reached.

Keywords : Rhinosporidiosis; Rhinosporidium seeberi; Nasal cavity; Argentina.

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