Primary Basidiobolomycosis of the Cecum in Immunocompetent Patients: Two Case Reports

• Published in: Gastroenterology research Vol. 14; no. 2; pp. 116 - 124
• Main Authors: Hussein, Mahmoud R A, Alqahtani, Abdullah S, Alhagawi, Yahia, Al Saglan, Naif S, Albishi, Abdullah M, Ahmed, Feras O, Rabie, Mohammad E, Bazeed, Mohamed F, Abu-Dief, Eman E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Canada Elmer Press 01-04-2021
• Subjects: Case Report; Mass; Basidiobolomycosis; Fungal; Cecum; Splendore-Hoeppli bodies
• ISSN: 1918-2805; 1918-2813
• DOI: 10.14740/gr1368

Colonic basidiobolomycosis is a rare fungal infection caused by
. Primary cecal basidiobolomycosis is an exceptionally rare condition. The study describes two cases of primary basidiobolomycosis of the cecum in immunocompetent male and female patients (one each). The patients presented with fever, abdominal pain, weight loss, eosinophilia, and high erythrocyte sedimentation rates. Computed tomography revealed wall thickening and mass lesions involving the cecum, suggesting malignancy. Right hemicolectomies were performed to relieve the intestinal obstruction. On microscopy, there were destructive, transmural eosinophil-rich pyogranulomatous reactions with thin-walled, pauci-septated fungal elements surrounded by Splendore-Hoeppli bodies. The patients received antifungal drugs, with no evidence of dissemination or recurrence on follow-up. Primary cecal basidiobolomycosis in immunocompetent hosts is a rare occurrence. It oftentimes clinically masquerades malignant neoplasms and therefore its identification mandates its inclusion in the differential diagnosis of a colonic mass, equally both on the part of the clinicians and pathologists.