Rhinosporidiosis: the largest case series in Brazil

Abstract

Introduction: Rhinosporidiosis is a chronic infection of the mucous membrane and is caused by Rhinosporidium seeberi, an aquatic mesomycetozoan. The mode of infection is probably transepithelial penetration. The large number of rivers and lakes and the strong presence of riparian populations in the State of Maranhão are strong predisposing factors for rhinosporidiosis. Methods:A 5-year retrospective study was conducted in a tertiary medical center situated in Maranhão, Northeast Brazil. Twenty-fi ve Maranhense patients diagnosed with rhinosporidiosis were analyzed. Results: Most of the patients were children, adolescents and young adults (age range: 7-24 years, mean age: 14 years). The majority of the participants were male (84%), brown (76%), and students (92%). All lesions involved the entire nasal cavity and presented with a vascular polypoid mass. All patients were treated by surgical excision of the lesions. Conclusions: Rhinosporidiosis affects younger age groups, especially students from the countryside and the outskirts of urban areas. This study will aid and guide physicians in diagnosing and treating this infection in endemic areas.

Evaluation of diagnosed cases of eye rhinosporidiosis in a public hospital of Maranhão, Northeast Brazil

“…The disease has the highest number of cases in India and Sri Lanka [5]. In Brazil, the great majority of the cases are noted in the State of Maranhão [7–10]. Rhinosporidiosis mainly affects males and has a predominance between the second and fourth decades of life [6, 11, 12].…”

Pharyngeal Rhinosporidiosis

“…Patients usually present with a reddish nasal mass which bleeds profusely. 1,2 The diagnosis is confirmed with excision biopsy of the lesion showing the typical sporangia in the tissue. The treatment is surgical excision followed by cauterization of the base to prevent recurrence.…”

“…Rhinosporidiosis is a chronic granulomatous disease caused by Rhinosporidium seeberi , which is classified under Mesomycetozoea. 1 The disease is endemic in India, Sri Lanka, and tropical areas of Africa and South America. 2 Most commonly it affects the nose, although mucous membrane of the nasopharynx, oropharynx, conjunctiva, rectum, and external genitalia can also be involved.…”

Cluster of Nasal Rhinosporidiosis, Eastern Province, Rwanda

“…Originally described in Argentina in 1900 ( 4 ), rhinosporidiosis is most prevalent in India and Sri Lanka, followed by countries in South America and Africa ( 5 ). In Africa, rhinosporidiosis has been documented in Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia, predominantly as conjunctival disease ( 6 – 12 ).…”