Rhinosporidiosis is a chronic condition affecting the mucous membranes of the nose. It may also occur in the eye or other mucous membranes. Although the precise cause is not well understood, it is thought that rhinosporidiosis is caused by infection by a fungi or aquatic protozoa. Rhinosporidiosis occurs as a slowly growing, tumor-like mass in the nasal cavity.
Most people who contract this condition have been exposed to freshwater ponds or stagnant water contaminated with animal waste. Men are more commonly afflicted by this condition than women. It is more often seen between the ages of 15 and 40. The condition is endemic in Sri-Lanka and Southern India, and has been reported in more than 70 other countries. Although rare in the United States, it is more common in the Southeast and in Texas.
The infection caused by rhinosporidiosis is most often found in the floor of the nose and in the inferior turbinate, the portion of the nose where air is filtered before reaching the lungs. This mass of swollen, pink or red polyps can obstruct the airways, causing difficulty breathing through the nose. In other cases, rhinosporidiosis can be a painless, prolonged condition; some patients have reported masses with a duration of up to 30 years. Difficulty breathing or the mass becoming visible outside the nose are the most common reasons for those with rhinosporidiosis to seek treatment.
Rhinosporidiosis is diagnosed via a biopsy of the polyps. Treatment usually involves the surgical removal of this mass, often via endoscopic nasal surgery. The healthy surrounding tissue is then cauterized to prevent regrowth of the mass. This condition is not effectively cured by medication or other treatments.
