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
