Orbital rhinosporidiosis

Soumen Chakraborty1, Asim Chakrabarti, Subhalakshmi Mukhopadhyay

  • 1Department of Ophthalmology, RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata.

Insights

Rhinospordiosis, a fungal infection, can mimic orbital cellulitis. Surgical removal of the mass led to significant patient improvement, highlighting effective treatment for this rare disease.

Area of Science:

  • Mycology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Ophthalmology

Background:

  • Rhinospordiosis is a chronic granulomatous disease affecting mucocutaneous tissues, endemic in South East Asia.
  • While typically involving the upper respiratory tract, extranasal manifestations are documented.

Observation:

  • A 27-year-old male presented with symptoms resembling severe orbital cellulitis.
  • Emergency management was initiated for his systemic condition.

Findings:

  • CT scan and histopathology confirmed rhinospordiosis.
  • A papillomatous mass was identified as the suspected cause.

Implications:

  • Surgical excision of the mass resulted in marked clinical improvement.
  • This case underscores the importance of considering rhinospordiosis in orbital inflammatory conditions.

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