Synchronous nasal rhinosporidiosis and inverted papilloma in a paediatric patient in Dodoma, Tanzania: Case report

Introduction Nasal rhinosporidiosis refers to a rare chronic granulomatous disease caused by Rhinosporidium seeberi. It affects the mucous membrane of sites such as nasopharynx, conjunctiva and palate. Inverted papillomas are relatively rare and are benign epithelial tumors of the nasal cavity that are locally aggressive, exhibit recurrence tendency and malignant transformation. Both entities are very rare in our setting and this is perhaps the first documented case in Tanzania. Case presentation The patient was a 7-year old boy with a 1-year history of left-sided nasal obstruction and intermittent epistaxis for 6 months. He had no history of cheek swelling, pain or numbness, loss or loosening of teeth or alveolar ridge fullness. There were no ophthalmological, otological or neurological complaints reported. Endoscopic excision of the nasal mass was done and histopathological analysis confirmed co-existence of rhinosporidiosis and inverted papilloma. Postoperatively, the patient was kept on oral dapsone at a dose of 50 mg/day for 6-months and with no residual disease recurrence noted after 6-months follow up. Clinical discussion The patient underwent endoscopic excision of the nasal mass and histopathological analysis confirmed co-existence of rhinosporidiosis and inverted papilloma. Postoperatively, the patient was kept on oral dapsone at a dose of 50 mg/day for 6-months and with no residual disease recurrence noted after 6-months of follow up. Conclusion Nasal rhinosporidiosis and inverted papilloma lesions may resemble the routinely encountered nasal polyps thus important for both clinicians and pathologists to have a high index of suspicion when managing patients with nasal masses even from non-endemic areas.