Nasal Septum Perforation Associated to Histoplasmosis: A Retrospective Study

Abstract Objective: To determine the prevalence of nasal septum perforation associated to Histoplasma sp. Material and Methods: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted with patients who developed nasal septum perforation associated to histoplasmosis. The diagnosis was made based on clinical manifestations and confirmed with mycological direct examination with Giemsa stain, culture, serologic tests (immunodiffusion method), and histopathology with hematoxylin-eosin, Grocott methenamine (GMS) and Periodic Acid-Schiff stain (PAS). Results: Out of 1654 medical records reviewed with diagnosis of histoplasmosis in the study period, we found 22 cases with nasal septum perforation. Autoimmune disease was present in 6 patients; all six were on immunosuppressive treatment. Two patients had HIV/AIDS, one of them had also paracoccidiodomycoses and the remaining had no apparent underlying disease or conditions. Conclusion: Physicians of endemic areas such as Venezuela, must consider this entity in the differential diagnosis with other diseases.

Oral Manifestations Associated to Paracoccidioidomicosis and Histoplasmosis

Objective: To determine the frequency and clinical forms of oral manifestations associated to Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) and Histoplasmosis. Material and Methods: 481 medical records of outpatients referred to the Medical Mycology Department were reviewed since 2009 to 2016. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistical methods. Results: 47 (9.77%) cases had oral manifestations, 29 (61.70%) were associated to PCM and 18 (38.29%) to histoplasmosis. For PCM, male-female ratio was 8:1 and 1:1 for histoplasmosis. The average age for PCM was 48 years old and 53 for histoplasmosis. All the PCM patients had more than 1 oral structure affected: 44.82% were gingival lesions and 27.58% palate. In patients with histoplasmosis, 6 (33.33%) were lesions affecting palate and 6 (33.33%) involving tongue. For both entities, painful ulcers and granulomatous-like lesions were the most prevalent clinical forms; however, we observed a wide range of other oral manifestations. Regarding PCM patient's comorbidities, 3 (10.34%) cases had HIV/AIDS, 8 (27.58%) histoplasmosis and 2 (6.89%) carcinomas. Whereas the comorbidities of patients with histoplasmosis, 2 (11.11%) had HIV/AIDS and 1 (5.55%) had carcinoma. Conclusion: In endemic countries for both mycoses, dentists must be aware of patients with mouth lesions, take advantage of epidemiologic clues that suggest risk factors and be acquainted with all the current diagnostic tests in order to make a quick diagnosis and treatment in highly suspicious cases.

Brote de histoplasmosis aguda en escolares de el Mayar, Estado Sucre, Venezuela / Outbreak of acute histoplasmosis in schoolchildren from El Mayar, Sucre State, Venezuela

Introducción: La histoplasmosis es una infección sistémica causada por un hongo dimorfo, Histoplasma capsulatum. Crece en suelos que contienen grandes cantidades de excretas tanto de aves como de murciélagos, en las proximidades del suelo de los gallineros y alrededor de árboles que albergan aves y murciélagos, en el interior o alrededor de las cuevas. La aerosolización de las microconidias residentes en estos suelos es la causante de las manifestaciones de la enfermedad Objetivo: Dar a conocer un brote de esta enfermedad relacionado con una actividad de remoción de suelos en espacio abierto. Método: Estudio observacional descriptivo de reporte de serie de casos que se inició con la identificación del caso índice. Se realizaron tomas de muestras tanto a los niños del colegio como al personal docente, así como de las fuentes de contagio común. Resultados: Se identificaron 7 niños, edad promedio de 11 años, predominantemente del sexo femenino y sin enfermedad predisponente condicionante. El diagnóstico de la enfermedad se realizó por estudio de material clínico (esputo, médula ósea, tejido pulmonar) con coloraciones especiales. Se aisló Histoplasma capsulatum del suelo donde estos niños residen y donde se desarrolló la actividad de remoción y rastrillo. Se estimó una tasa de ataque del 58 % % con una letalidad del 14 %. Conclusión: Se ha realizado el primer reporte para el país de un brote de histoplasmosis en espacio abierto relacionado con remoción y rastrillo de suelo, reconociendo un área de endemicidad previamente no determinada.

Introduction: Histoplasmosis is a systemic infection caused by a dimorphic fungus, Histoplasma capsulatum. It grows in soils with the consequent contamination of large amounts of birds and bats excreta, near barn soils and around trees that harbor birds and bats, and also inside or around caves. Aerosolization of microconidia residents in these soils is the cause of the transmision of the disease Objective: To report an outbreak of this disease related to an activity of soil removal in an open space. Methods: This is a descriptive observational study of a case series that began with the identification of the index case. Samples were obtained from school children and teachers, as well as from common sources of infection. Results: 7 children, predominantly females with an average age of 11 years, with no predisposing disease were included. Diagnosis was performed by special colorations of sputum, bone marrow and lung tissue. Histoplasma capsulatum was isolated from the soil where these children reside and where the activity of removal and rake was performed. An attack rate of 58% was estimated with a fatality rate of 14%. Conclusion: This was the first report in Venezuela of an outbreak of histoplasmosis in open space associated with soil removal and rake, recognizing an area of endemicity previously undetermined.

Sarcoma de Ewing costal / Costal Ewing Sarcoma

The Sarcomas Ewing/PNET is highly aggressive and both tumors present/display he himself phantom of genetic anomalies reason for which the term of “Tumors of the family of sarcoma of Ewing is used (TFSE)” that includes to a group of tumors with a phantom of neuroectodermic differentiation. Case of feminine adolescent of eleven years, that referred sharp pain, in hemitorax appears left, in Rx of the thorax heterogenous dense image of diffuse edges projected on third basal means in left pulmonary field received antibiotics, remained asymptomatic up to eight months later when chest pain reappeared, made Rx of the thorax where demonstrate at level of the eighth costal arc bony erosion, in addition to the image previously described to greater size. Normal physical examinations. normal examinations of laboratory, computerized axial Tomography of the chest demonstrate bony erosion, and commitment of the local pleura biopsy of the injury reported: “Malignant Tumor of round cells, extensive necrosis”. Bony scintygraphy indicated osteoblastic activity altered in D8, suggestive of secondary bony infiltration. Made resection of tumor like injury in chest wall with reconstruction, positioning of prosthesis and central catheter biopsy of bony Marrow: refusal. The morphologic and inmunohistochemical findings with positivity for compatible FLy and CD99 with tumor of the family of sarcoma of Ewing/primtive neuroectodermic tumor. At the moment in treatment programmed with standard chemotherapy every 21 days X-ray in week 12.

Los Sarcomas Ewing/PNET son altamente agresivos y ambos tumores presentan el mismo espectro de anomalías genéticas razón por la que se usa el término de “Tumores de la familia del sarcoma de Ewing (TFSE)” que abarca a un grupo de tumores con un espectro de diferenciación neuroectodérmica. Se presenta caso de adolescente femenina de once años, quien refirió dolor punzante, en hemitorax izquierdo, en Rx del tórax imagen densa heterogénea de bordes difusos proyectada sobre tercio medio basal en campo pulmonar izquierdo. Recibió antibióticos, permaneció asintomática hasta ocho meses después cuando reapareció dolor torácico, y en Rx del tórax se evidencio a nivel del octavo arco costal erosión ósea, además de la imagen anteriormente descrita de mayor tamaño. Examen físico y de laboratorios fueron normales, en Tomografía axial computarizada del tórax se evidencio erosión ósea, y compromiso de la pleura local. Biopsia de la lesión reportó: “Tumor maligno de células redondas, extensa necrosis”. Gammagrama Óseo señaló actividad osteoblástica alterada en D8 sugestivo de infiltración ósea secundaria. Se realizó resección de lesión tumoral, reconstrucción, colocación de prótesis, catéter central biopsia de Médula ósea: negativa. Los hallazgos morfológicos e inmunohistoquímicos con positividad para FLy y CD99 compatible con tumor de la familia del sarcoma de Ewing/tumor neuroectodérmico primitivo. Actualmente en tratamiento programado con quimioterapia estándar cada 21 días Radioterapia en la semana 12.

Histoplasmosis: a study of 158 cases in Venezuela, 2000-2005.

Histoplasmosis, a granulomatous disease caused by Histoplasma capsulatum, is endemic in Venezuela. We conducted the current study to appraise retrospectively the demographic data, clinical features, diagnostic methods, and treatment of patients with histoplasmosis from January 2000 to December 2005. We reviewed the medical records of outpatient cases with a diagnosis of histoplasmosis and considered clinical samples processed at our laboratory. We collected demographic, epidemiologic, and clinical data from each case as available, including results of any mycologic examinations performed. Treatment and outcome data were available for some patients. We assessed 158 cases of histoplasmosis: 103 (65.2%) patients came from the Caracas metropolitan area; 53 were associated with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), 14 with tuberculosis, and 8 with paracoccidioidomycosis. Six pediatric patients were malnourished. Epidemiologic data suggested histoplasmosis in most cases. Patients received treatment with itraconazole and/or amphotericin B. Our results may reflect changes in the epidemiology occurring in Venezuela, perhaps due to environmental changes and the presence of AIDS. Several mycologic exams are necessary to ensure a proper diagnosis. More reliable data and statistics on this infection are necessary to monitor outbreaks closely and to establish if there is an epidemic pattern.

Pulmonary histoplasmosis: unusual histopathologic findings.

Four patients with clinical diagnosis of interstitial lung disease (ILD) are presented. In these patients, lung biopsies revealed bronchocentric granulomatosis (BG), pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP), diffuse alveolar damage (DAD), and in one biopsy, the clinical manifestations suggested tuberculous primo-infection with systemic dissemination. Three patients died without diagnosis. In all four cases, specific histological stains found Histoplasma capsulatum. Histoplasmosis may mimic other infectious or non-infectious pulmonary diseases, such as interstitial and granulomatous pulmonary disease. Therefore, the absolute need for identification of the organism by culture or special stains cannot be over-emphasized and may lead to a proper mycological diagnosis. This highlights the importance of differential diagnosis with systemic infectious diseases, especially in areas where deep-seated mycosis are endemic.

Proteinosis alveolar pulmonar: estudio ultraestuctural de cuatro casos / Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis: an ultrastructural study of four cases

La proteinosis Alveolar Pulmonar (PAP) es una enfermedad pulmonar difusa, poco frecuente, caracterizada por el depósito anormal de material lipoproteináceo PAS positivo en los alvéolos. Se ha asociado, principalmente, a alteraciones del estado inmunológico y a infecciones secundarias. Se estudiaron cuatro casos con diagnóstico histológico de PAP. En dos casos se demostró infección sistémica por Histoplasma capsulatum y asociación a estado de inmunodeficiencia (SIDA y desnutrición), un caso con Pneumocystis carinii y SIDA, y un caso sin patología asociada. El estudio ultraestructural mostró material granular electron denso, figuras de mielina concéntricas y cuerpos osmiofilicos de tamaño variable. Se observaron estructuras levaduriformes, trofozoitos y quistes en la luz alveolar, en los casos de Histoplasmosis e infección por Pneumocytis carinii, respectivamente. En uno de los casos, los neutrófilos circulantes mostraron inclusiones cristaloides intranucleares. Enfatizamos la necesidad de considerar esta entidad en el diagnóstico diferencial de pacientes inmunosuprimidos con infiltrados pulmonares

Tuberculosis cutánea: análisis clínico epidemiológico, bacteriológico e histopatológico: 1989-1993 / Tuberculosis cutaneous: clinical analysis, epidemiological, bacteriological and histophatological: 1989-1993

Se revisa la experiencia sobre Tuberculina cutánea (TBCc) en Venezuela durante el quinquenio 1989-1993. Para ello se practicó revision de 3.335 fichas de notificación (Denuncia) de TBC extrapulmonar provenientes del Departamento de Tuberculosis del MASA con sede en el Hospital José Ignacio Baldó. De ellas se seleccionaron sólo las notificaciones como TBC ganglionar (debido a que las escrófulas son reportadas mayormente así) y TBCc que reunieron los criterios de Wilkinson (modificados) mundialmente aceptados como diagnóstico para TBC, los cuales fueron 243 casos. En una segunda etapa, se revisaron las historias clínicas de los casos vistos en nuestro hospital durante ese lapso y algunas de otros centros hospitalarios y dispensarios del área metropolitana. La incidencia global fue de 0,24 por ciento, cifra que sigue estando dentro del rango observado a nivel nacional, da la impresión desde el punto de vista que la TBCc estuviera aumentando, sin embargo los parámetros estadísticos no lo revelan así, creemos que ello sea debido a principalmente al subregistro, oferta de medicamentos antifímicos en el mercado privado, bajo índice de sospecha y la falta de un control epidemiológico efectivo relacionado con la recolección de las fichas de denuncia. Las formas clínicas más frecuentes observadas fueron: escrófulas, eritema nodoso y úlceras tuberculosas. Se analizan los diferentes procedimientos diagnósticos utilizados: tuberculina, bacteriología, radiología e histopatología enfocados bajo dos ópticas: escrófulas/otras TBCc