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Histoplasmosis: The otolaryngologist's perspective
Author(s) -
Gerber Mark E.,
Rosdeutscher John D.,
Seiden Allen M.,
Tami Thomas A.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1288/00005537-199509000-00009
Subject(s) - histoplasmosis , medicine , larynx , pharynx , otorhinolaryngology , dermatology , histoplasma , amphotericin b , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , surgery , intensive care medicine , antifungal , immunology , histoplasma capsulatum
Within the upper aerodigestive tract, histoplasmosis often mimics carcinoma, making prompt and accurate diagnosis imperative. More severe and potentially lethal infections with Histoplasma capsulaturn are now being seen as the numbers of patients at the extremes of age, as well as those with compromised immune systems, increase. We reviewed the cases of 115 hospitalized patients with disseminated histoplasmosis. Of these, 9 patients were identified with tolaryngologic manifestations: 4 were infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), 1 was diabetic, and 3 were renal transplant patients. Sites of involvement included the larynx (in 2 cases) and the oral cavity and oral pharynx (in 7 cases). Eight of the 9 patients had a positive biopsy result; the other, a positive culture. Treatment with amphotericin B was generally effective, while the use of newer azole antifungal agents were less effective. As the number of immunocompromised patients continues to increase in modern clinical practice, histoplasmosis will undoubtedly be encountered more frequently in the head and neck area.