Journal of Southern Medical University ›› 2013, Vol. 33 ›› Issue (02): 296-.

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Pathologically confirmed histoplasmsis: analysis of 14 cases

  

  • Online:2013-02-20 Published:2013-02-20

Abstract: Objective To summarize the features of disease history, clinical manifestations, adjuvant examination results,
diagnosis, treatments and outcome of patients with histoplasmosis. Methods The clinical data of 14 patients with
biopsy-confirmed histoplasmosis between 2000 and 2012 in Nanfang Hospital were analyzed retrospectively. Results The
clinical manifestations of histoplasmosis included fever, productive cough, chest pain, and abdominal pain, accompanied
occasionally by neurological symptoms, lymph node enlargement or surface mass. Seven out of the 14 o patients had
underlying immunosuppressive conditions, 9 had chest imaging changes, and 2 showed reduced white blood cells, red blood
cells and platelets. The cases were initially diagnosis as tuberculosis, malignant tumor, or malignant lymphoma before the
definite diagnosis was established pathologically. Ten patients received treatments with itraconazole, amphotericin B,
fluconazole or voriconazole, and 9 of them responded favorably to the treatments. Conclusion Histoplasmosis, with a low
incidence and diverse clinical manifestations, presents with no specific imaging features to easily cause misdiagnosis and
missed diagnosis, and its definite diagnosis relies on pathological examination.