Ocular Rhinosporidiosis and Recurrence Postsurgery: A Case Series

Abstract

Rhinosporidiosis, a chronic granulomatous disease, is caused by Rhinosporidium seeberi. It is an endosporulating microorganism causing polypoidal ocular mass. A clinician needs to have high degree of suspicion for oculosporidiosis, as it is more common in nasal cavity and other respiratory passage as compared to ocular lesion. The authors intend to increase awareness among ophthalmologists through this case series. It was intended to evaluate profile, clinical presentation and recurrence rate of ocular rhinosporidiosis in a tertiary care setting in Eastern India. The present case series is about 15 patients diagnosed with rhinosporidiosis, that was reported within one year. Age range was 6-50 years, with male:female was 9:6. All patients underwent total excision with around 2 mm lesion free margin and electrocautery of base. Postoperatively, antibiotic and lubricant eye drops were given, a follow-up schedule was day 1, 7, 30, six months and one year. Majority of the patients showed involvement of lower tarsal conjunctiva (eight), followed by upper (four), then bulbar conjunctiva (one), lower lid (one), and lacrimal sac (one). All patients recovered completely postoperatively. At one year follow-up no patient had any recurrence. Ocular rhinosporidiosis may have diverse presentation from chalazion, papilloma, keratoconjunctivitis etc. This disease is often missed because of poor pathological back up at many centres. In an endemic area, a high degree of suspicion should be there to detect this relatively rare entity.