CASE REPORT
Isolated vocal cord aspergillosis in a professional flute player – A case report
 
More details
Hide details
1
Department of Otorhinolaryngology T, Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM Hospital, Siksha 'O' Anusandhan University, Odisha, India
 
2
Central Research Laboratory, Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM Hospital, Siksha 'O' Anusandhan University, Odisha, India
 
 
Submission date: 2016-01-17
 
 
Acceptance date: 2016-02-22
 
 
Online publication date: 2016-05-04
 
 
Publication date: 2020-03-24
 
 
Corresponding author
Santosh Kumar Swain   

Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM Hospital, Siksha 'O' Anusandhan University, Bhubaneswar 751003, Odisha, India. Tel.: +91 9556524887.
 
 
Pol. Ann. Med. 2016;23(2):161-164
 
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
Isolated vocal cord aspergillosis is an extremely rare clinical entity, especially in immunocompetent persons. It is usually seen as part of the systemic infections involving bronchopulmonary region in an immunocompromised patient. Differential diagnosis is important in this condition as clinical features are often simulating to the laryngeal malignancy or premalignant conditions.

Aim:
Early identification and treatment of this rare isolated fungal lesion in the vocal cords prevent spread to other parts of the larynx and outside of the larynx.

Case study:
In this case, a 35-year-old male flute player presented with primary aspergillosis of the vocal cords without affecting other parts of the airway. With the help of histopathological and microbial culture report, it was diagnosed and treated early.

Results and discussion:
Video laryngoscope confirmed pale, whitish, irregular and thickened lesions involving the bilateral vocal cords, whereas histopathological examination showed colonization by both spores and broad septate hyphae without any evidence of malignant cells. Potassium hydroxide (KOH) staining and culture in Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA) revealed fungal growth with bluish green velvety and powdery surface confirmed the fungal growth of Aspergillus fumigatus.

Conclusions:
An isolated fungal infection of the larynx is a rare clinical entity and often simulates a premalignant condition or squamous cell carcinoma. Early identification and treatment of this isolated fungal lesion in the vocal cords are important to prevent spread to other parts of the larynx and outside of the larynx.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST
None declared.
REFERENCES (7)
1.
Florent M, Ajchenbaum-Cymbalista F, Amy C, et al. Dysphonia and dysphagia as primary manifestations of invasive aspergillosis. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2001;20(6):441–442.
 
2.
Mäkitie AA, Bäck L, Aaltonen LM, Leivo I, Valtonen M. Fungal infection of the epiglottis simulating a clinical malignancy. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2003;129(1):124–126.
 
3.
Shohami S, Levitz SM. The immune response to fungal infections. Br J Haematol. 2005;129(5):569–582.
 
4.
Sulica L. Laryngeal thrush. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 2005;114(5):369–375.
 
5.
Ran Y, Yang B, Liu S, et al. Primary vocal cord aspergillosis caused by Aspergillus fumigatus and molecular identification of the isolate. Med Mycol. 2008;46(5):475–479.
 
6.
Wittkopf JC, Connelly S, Hoffman H, Smith R, Robinson R. Infection of true vocal fold cyst with Aspergillus. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2006;135(4):660–661.
 
7.
Mehanna HM, Kuo T, Chaplin J, Taylor G, Morton RP. Fungal laryngitis in immunocompetent patients. J Laryngol Otol. 2004;118(5):379–381.
 
Journals System - logo
Scroll to top