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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · J Lab Physicians 2016; 8(02): 129-131
DOI: 10.4103/0974-2727.180797
Case Report

Disseminated Histoplasmosis: A Fatal Opportunistic Infection in Disguise

Ruchita Tyagi
Department of Pathology, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab, India
,
Arshdeep Kaur
Department of Pathology, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab, India
,
Pavneet Kaur Selhi
Department of Pathology, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab, India
,
Harpreet Kaur Puri
Department of Pathology, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab, India
,
Neena Sood
Department of Pathology, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab, India
› Author Affiliations Financial support and sponsorship: Nil.
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ABSTRACT

Histoplasma capsulatum is no longer confined to certain geographic areas and should always be considered in the differential diagnosis of lymphadenopathy and organomegaly in HIV-positive patients. We present an unusual case of a 20-year-old immunocompromised male of African origin presenting with fever, jaundice, hepatosplenomegaly, and retroperitoneal and cervical lymphadenopathy. Fine needle aspiration (FNA) smears from the cervical lymph node revealed numerous yeast forms of histoplasma in macrophages. The patient succumbed to the fulminant infection. Postmortem liver biopsy also revealed infiltration by histoplasma, confirming the diagnosis of disseminated histoplasmosis. This case highlights the variable nature of the clinical presentation of disseminated histoplasmosis which can mimic tuberculosis, leishmaniasis, or lymphoma. FNA cytology is a rapid, cost-effective, and reliable diagnostic tool for early detection and prompt management of histoplasmosis.

Key words:

Disseminated - histoplasmosis - immunocompromised


Publication History

Article published online:
19 April 2020

© 2016.

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