Background

Histoplasmosis is a non-contagious systemic fungal infection, caused by a thermally dimorphic fungus, Histoplasma capsulatum. The fungus thrives in warm and humid environment such as soils enriched with nitrogenous compounds and phosphates, derived from avian excreta and bat guano [1]. It has a worldwide distribution, with propensity of endemicity in North America [1, 2]. Fewer cases have been reported from Asia and Europe.

The microconidia and short hyphal fragments of histoplasma, when inhaled by mammalian hosts reach the alveoli, followed by rapid conversion to its yeast form, that can persist in host tissues and may disseminate through the bloodstream and lymphatics to other organs, causing histoplasmosis [1].

The first description of histoplasmosis was done by a pathologist, Samuel Taylor Darling, in 1906, isolated during autopsy of a patient [3]. The diagnosis of histoplasmosis had always been made post-mortem until 1934, when Dodd & Tompkins diagnosed histoplasmosis in a living infant [3].

Paediatric cases occur in approximately 5%, and in adolescents, it is higher. The disease occurs often in males than in females (1.5:1 ratio), and in ages between 6 and 9 years of age [4]. Histoplasmosis is usually self-limiting in immunocompetent children, while in immunocompromised children, the disease is more aggressive and disseminated [4].

Pharyngo-laryngeal histoplasmosis is a rare clinical entity, described first in 1940 by Brown and colleagues. Since then, less than 100 cases have been reported in medical literature [2, 5]. Here, we present a rare case of disseminated histoplasmosis with primary pharyngo-laryngeal presentation in an immunocompromised child.

Case presentation

A 6-year-old female child, with diagnosed case of B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia on chemotherapy for last 2 years, was referred to the ENT department with complaints of hoarseness of voice and dysphagia since past 2 months. It was associated with history of intermittent fever and dry cough for 1 month. However, there was no history of night sweats or loss of weight.

The general physical examination was unremarkable, except for mild hepato-splenomegaly. On examination of neck, bilateral level II and level III cervical lymphadenopathy was present. The oral cavity, ears, and nose were normal on examination. On flexible laryngoscopy, hypertrophic granulations were seen on posterior pharyngeal wall and oedematous, granular appearance of epiglottis, aryepiglottic fold, and false vocal cords was seen.

The blood profile showed that the child was anaemic (Hb 8.3 g/dL) with low platelet count (Plt 51,000 per cc). Peripheral smear showed normocytic normochromic RBCs with mild anisocytosis, reduced platelets but no hemo-parasites. Blood, sputum, and urine culture was sterile; viral markers for HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C were negative. Sputum for Gram stain demonstrated normal respiratory flora. The chest X-ray was grossly normal. The FNAC picture from cervical lymph nodes was that of reactive lymphoid hyperplasia.

On direct laryngoscopy, under general anesthesia, hypertrophic granulations were seen over posterior pharyngeal wall and the whole of supra-glottic larynx (the epiglottis, aryepiglottic folds, arytenoids, and false vocal folds) was oedematous and granular in appearance (Figs. 1 and 2). The true vocal cords, sub-glottis, and trachea were normal (Fig. 2). Biopsy was taken from the granular tissue.

Fig. 1
figure 1

Hypertrophic granulations over posterior pharyngeal wall with oedematous, granular epiglottis

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Fig. 2
figure 2

Edematous and granular appearance of arytenoids, aryepiglottic folds and false vocal cords (L > R). True vocal cord, subglottis, and trachea appears normal

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Histopathological examination showed a lining of stratified squamous epithelium with diffuse sheets of macrophages with interspersed mature lymphocytes (Fig. 3). The macrophages showed foamy cytoplasm, with numerous intracellular and extracellular histoplasma spores, which was positive for periodic acid Schiff stain. These spores also stained positive with Gomori’s methanamine-silver stain, confirming the tissue diagnosis of histoplasmosis.

Fig. 3
figure 3

HPE (×4 magnification) showing lining of stratified squamous epithelium with diffuse sheets of macrophages with interspersed mature lymphocytes

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With the diagnosis of pharyngo-laryngeal histoplasmosis, CECT of neck, chest, abdomen, and bone marrow aspiration was done to rule out disseminated disease. On CECT, mild hepatosplenomegaly was seen. Bone marrow was normocellular with presence of intracellular yeast, thus confirming disseminated disease. However, the bone marrow culture was sterile. The urine and CSF cytology were negative for intracellular yeast and urine immuno-assay for histoplasma antibody was also negative.

The diagnosis of pharyngo-laryngeal histoplasmosis with dissemination was, thus, made. The patient was started on Inj. Amphotericin B (liposomal) 0.7 mg/kg/day for 2 weeks, followed by oral Itraconazole 75 mg twice daily for 6 months. During follow-up, there were features suggestive of recurrence. So, duration of oral Itraconazole was increased by 2 months and no recurrence has been seen on 2 years of follow-up.

Discussion

Histoplasmosis is a granulomatous disease of universal distribution caused by a dimorphic intracellular fungus, histoplasma capsulatum which mainly affects the reticular system [6]. Host factors like immunity, along with the amounts of organisms inhaled, affect its presentation and progression [7].

Clinically, it is classified into 4 types: acute pulmonary histoplasmosis, chronic pulmonary histoplasmosis, acute disseminated histoplasmosis, and chronic disseminated histoplasmosis [1].

Acute pulmonary histoplasmosis is the most frequent clinical form, accounting for 90% of the cases and presenting with dry cough, malaise, and multiple pulmonary infiltrates associated with hilar lymphadenopathy.

Disseminated forms are rare, occurring mainly in children less than 2 years, elderly and immunocompromised individuals. In healthy children, this condition is usually self-limiting, rarely requiring treatment but immunocompromised children, as the present case, are prone to develop more severe disease [8].

Histoplasma capsulatum infection involving the pharynx and larynx is a rare manifestation and is usually associated with mucocutaneous form of chronic disseminated spread. The initial manifestations usually are dysphagia, odynophagia, hoarseness of voice, gingival ulceration along with loss of weight, malaise, and fatigue [9].

Diagnosis of laryngeal histoplasmosis is rarely based on clinical examination and a set of differential diagnosis needs to be considered like amyloidosis, tuberculosis, lymphoma, syphilis, and sarcoidosis [2, 8]. Definitive diagnosis is based on histopathological examination of sputum, BAL, smears from ulcers in oral cavity, urine, bone marrow biopsies or oral/laryngeal masses with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), periodic acid Schiff, and Gomori’s methenamine-silver nitrate stain, which can be confirmed by the growth of the fungi on Sabouraud-chloramphenicol medium at 27 °C for 10–14 days [1].

Antigen detection in urine and serum should be done in all patients with suspected disseminated histoplasmosis. The enzyme immunoassay can detect the fungal antigen in 75–95% of the cases and in serum about 100% of cases; however, a negative antigen test does not rule out disseminated histoplasmosis [8]. Serological test for anti-histoplasma using immunodiffusion (RIA) and complement fixation methods (PCR) are positive in 70% of immunocompromised and 90% of immunocompetent patients with disseminated infection [2, 6].

In the present case, the diagnosis of disseminated histoplasmosis was based on histopathology and bone marrow aspirate examination.

Treatment of choice is intravenous Amphotericin B at 0.7–1.0 mg/kg/day for 2–4 weeks, followed by oral itraconazole 5 mg/kg daily up to 200 mg until clinical cure and then change to 50 mg/kg for 6 more months [8].

Conclusions

Pharyngo-laryngeal histoplasmosis is a rare presentation of disseminated histoplasmosis, making it a clinical challenge and requiring high degree of suspicion for diagnosis. It should be included in the differential diagnoses in immune-compromised patients complaining of persistent hoarseness and dysphagia. The prognosis is good with timely diagnosis and commencement of anti-fungal therapy.