Invasive Basidiobolomycosis Presenting as Retroperitoneal Fibrosis: A Case Report

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Jan 15;17(2):535. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17020535.

Abstract

Basidiobolomycosis is an uncommon emerging fungal infection caused by Basidiobolus ranarum. It frequently causes cutaneous infection, but it rarely infects visceral tissues in humans. Here, a 39-year-old previously healthy woman presented with severe left-sided abdominal pain and weight loss. She had visited several hospitals and had provisionally been diagnosed as having either a retroperitoneal malignancy or retroperitoneal fibrosis before being referred to our hospital. Abdominal computerized tomography and biopsy of the retroperitoneal mass revealed retroperitoneal basidiobolomycosis infection. She was started on antifungal treatment. This led to significant improvement, without surgical intervention. Gastrointestinal basidiobolomycosis can present in many forms, commonly involving the colon and liver with multifocal inflammatory masses. Nonetheless, retroperitoneal basidiobolomycosis presentation is extremely rare and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a retroperitoneal mass with eosinophilia.

Keywords: basidiobolomycosis; fungal infection; mycoses; retroperitoneal.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antifungal Agents / therapeutic use
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Entomophthorales*
  • Eosinophilia / diagnosis
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Retroperitoneal Fibrosis / diagnosis*
  • Zygomycosis / diagnosis*
  • Zygomycosis / drug therapy

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents