Disseminated histoplasmosis with lesions restricted to the larynx in a patient with AIDS. Report of a case and review of the literature.

ABSTRACT

Histoplasmosis is an endemic and systemic mycosis, caused by the dimorphic fungus Histoplasma capsulatum var capsulatum. Disseminated disease in immunocompromised patients generally results from the reactivation of latent foci after a prolonged period of asymptomatic infection. We report a case of laryngeal histoplasmosis as the unique clinical manifestation of a progressive form of the disease in a patient with advanced HIV/AIDS disease. Histopathological analysis of laryngeal biopsy smears revealed granulomas containing Histoplasma-like organisms. Treatment with amphotericin B followed by itraconazole resulted in complete remission of laryngeal lesions. To our knowledge, this is the third case report of laryngeal histoplasmosis in a patient with AIDS.