Atypical Presentation of Laryngeal Histoplasmosis

Abstract

Background: Medical literature has documented less than 100 cases of histoplasmosis till date. It is an endemic granulomatous fungus disease, which rarely infects the larynx in immunologically competent patients. Case Report: A 68 year old male presented with difficulty in swallowing and progressive change in voice for one month which clinically suggested laryngeal tuberculosis. Laryngoscopy revealed edematous epiglottis and aryepiglottic fold. Histopathological biopsy illustrated sheets of histiocytes with numerous forms of Histoplasma capsulatum. Conclusion: Laryngeal histoplasmosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a patient with hoarseness of voice and moreover, in the differential diagnosis of tumors in the vocal folds, causing hoarseness.

Pharyngo-laryngeal histoplasmosis in an immunocompromised child—a case report

“…Histoplasmosis is a granulomatous disease of universal distribution caused by a dimorphic intracellular fungus, histoplasma capsulatum which mainly affects the reticular system [6]. Host factors like immunity, along with the amounts of organisms inhaled, affect its presentation and progression [7]. Clinically, it is classified into 4 types: acute pulmonary histoplasmosis, chronic pulmonary histoplasmosis, acute disseminated histoplasmosis, and chronic disseminated histoplasmosis [1].…”