J Rhinol.  2022 Jul;29(2):106-111. 10.18787/jr.2021.00387.

Two Cases of Herpes Virus Infection of Nose Mimicking Acute Invasive Fungal Infection in Immunocompromised Hosts

• Lee C
• Jung YG
• Kim HY
• Hong SD

• KMID: 2532013
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.18787/jr.2021.00387

Abstract

Various invasive fungal infections can occur in immunocompromised hosts, and an acute invasive fungal infection (AIFI) can be fatal. Because of its high mortality rate, AIFI must be quickly diagnosed and treated, such as anti-fungal agents or surgical debridement. In an immunocompromised host, nasal herpes simplex infection, usually caused by herpes simplex virus (HSV) type-1, can have various clinical manifestations, some of which can mimic AIFI. However, the management of acute viral infection differs significantly from invasive fungal infections of the nose. A fast and accurate differential diagnosis is mandatory because a delay in the disease-specific treatment of acute invasive infections can lead to mortality. This report describes two immunocompromised patients with mucosal and skin lesions around the nose. We provide clinical clues when mucosal lesions of the nasal cavity and skin lesions around the nose develop in immunocompromised hosts.

Keyword

Herpes simplex; Invasive fungal infections; Nose; Differential diagnosis; Nasal cavity

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Endoscopic finding of patient 1. A: Hemorrhagic crusts on an erythematous base are seen from columella, subnasale to alar rim in left nose. Ulcerative mucosal lesion with edema and pallor extends from anterior septum and lateral mucosa to inferior turbinate in left nasal cavity. B: New ulcerative lesions and pallor in lower lip, upper lip, anterior tip of tongue and right maxillary second molar adjacent gingiva (white arrows).

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  Fig. 2 MRI finding of patient 1. A: T1-weighted image. B: T1-enhanced image showing soft tissue infiltrative lesion by invasive herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection (white arrow) in left anterior nasal cavity and vestibule. C: Short TI-inversion recovery image.

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  Fig. 3 Pathologic finding of patient 1. A: H&E staining (×200). B: H&E staining (×400). Mixed inflammatory infiltration, multinucleated giant cells (white arrow) and intranuclear inclusion (black arrow) are seen.

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  Fig. 4 Endoscopic findings of patient 2. A: Before antiviral treatment. Hemorrhagic crusts on an erythematous base are seen along to subnasale and columella in right nose. Ulcerative mucosal lesions and pallor are also seen along anterior septum in right nasal cavity. Multiple ulcerative lesions are seen on dorsal tongue, hard palate, and lateral pharyngeal wall. B: After antiviral treatment.

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  Fig. 5 Enhanced CT finding of patient 2. A: Before antiviral treatment. Soft tissue swelling (arrow) is in right nasal cavity adjacent to columella. B: After antiviral treatment. Previous mucosal thickening in right nasal vestibule and adjacent mucosal swelling are resolved.

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