Related Experiment Videos
Histoplasmosis of the thyroid
L Z Goldani1, C Klock, A Diehl
1Infectious Diseases Unit, Hospital das Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Lgoldani@vortex.ufrgs.br
Journal of Clinical Microbiology
|October 4, 2000
Summary
Fungal thyroid infection is rare, with Histoplasma capsulatum rarely reported. This case highlights a thyroid nodule as the sole site of histoplasmosis in an immunocompromised patient, diagnosed via fine-needle aspiration.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Infectious Diseases
- Oncology
Background:
- Fungal thyroid infections are uncommon, typically associated with disseminated disease caused by Aspergillus, Coccidioides, or Candida species.
- Histoplasma capsulatum thyroid infections are exceptionally rare, even in endemic regions, and usually occur within a disseminated context.
Observation:
- A 52-year-old woman with a history of Hashimoto's disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma presented with a diffusely enlarged thyroid gland and a significant nodule.
- This thyroid abnormality was the only apparent manifestation of histoplasmosis.
- Fine-needle aspiration of the thyroid was crucial for diagnosing thyroid histoplasmosis.
Findings:
- The patient received itraconazole for fungal infection and chemotherapy for lymphoma.
- Successful treatment resulted in symptom resolution, thyroid nodule regression, and reduced cervical adenopathy.
- Long-term suppressive therapy with itraconazole proved effective.
Implications:
- This case underscores the possibility of localized thyroid histoplasmosis, even in immunocompromised individuals.
- Fine-needle aspiration is a valuable diagnostic method for thyroid fungal infections.
- Early diagnosis and treatment are critical for managing rare fungal thyroid infections and associated conditions.