Rhinosporidiosis

A 27 year old man presented to the otorhinolaryngology outpatient clinic with a 3-month history of progressive obstruction and bleeding from the right naris. Physical examination showed a red, granular, pedunculated, nonpulsatile mass that obstructed the right nasal cavity and bled on touch (Panel A). The patient reported bathing frequently in the local pond. The mass was excised, and the base of the lesion was cauterized. Histopathological examination revealed multiple thick-walled sporangia in various stages of maturation, surrounded by dense inflammation (Panel B, hematoxylin and eosin). A diagnosis of rhinosporidiosis was made. Rhinosporidiosis is a chronic granulomatous disease caused by the aquatic protistan parasite Rhinosporidium seeberi. The typical presentation is a reddish, friable mucosal polyp, commonly involving the nasal cavity, that bleeds profusely on touch. The oropharynx, conjunctiva, rectum, and external genitalia may also be affected. The disease is endemic in India and Sri Lanka, although the infection also occurs in other parts of the world, including Africa and South America. At follow up 8 months later, the patient had areas of recurrence in the nasopharynx that were removed.