Disseminated histoplasmosis presenting as pelvic inflammatory disease

Endemic mycoses in children in North America: a review of radiologic findings

Clinically significant endemic mycoses (fungal infections) in the United States (U.S.) include Blastomyces dermatitidis, Histoplasma capsulatum, and Coccidioides immitis/posadasii. While the majority of infections go clinically unnoticed, symptomatic disease can occur in immunocompromised or hospitalized patients, and occasionally in immune-competent individuals. Clinical manifestations vary widely and their diagnosis may require fungal culture, making the rapid diagnosis a challenge. Imaging can be helpful in making a clinical diagnosis prior to laboratory confirmation, as well as assist in characterizing disease extent and severity. In this review, we discuss the three major endemic fungal infections that occur in the U.S., including mycology, epidemiology, clinical presentations, and typical imaging features with an emphasis on the pediatric population.

Histoplasmosis mimicking metastatic spinal tumour

Histoplasmosis is an infection caused by a fungus called Histoplasma. Diagnosis of histoplasmosis is based on the culture of biological samples and detection of fungus in tissues. Histoplasmosis can mimic malignant lesions. We report a 65-year-old, immunocompetent, male patient with back pain. We describe the main clinical and radiological characteristics in our patient who had vertebral histoplasmosis that mimicked cancer. A computed tomography scan showed lytic lesions of the right side of T4, T5, and T6 vertebral bodies. Magnetic resonance imaging displayed abnormal marrow signals in T4, T5, and T6 vertebral bodies (low signal on T1, high on T2 and short time inversion recovery (STIR)). Which was mimicking malignancy, such as haematological malignancy and metastatic bone cancer. Therefore, thoracic spinal surgery using the anterior approach was performed. An intraoperative frozen section examination and routine postoperative pathology showed thoracic histoplasmosis infection. Treatment of histoplasmosis was performed with oral itraconazole. The lesions did not progress and the patient symptomatically improved at a follow-up of 26 months.

Disseminated histoplasmosis presenting as pelvic inflammatory disease

A 39‐year‐old female patient was presented with acute abdominal pain. Diagnostic laparoscopy revealed extensive granulomas throughout the abdomen. Disseminated TB was suspected, but the biopsies were negative. Due to a high degree of suspicion, a urine antigen test was performed and was strongly positive for histoplasmosis.