African histoplasmosis masquerading as carcinoma of the colon. Report of a case and review of literature

Abstract

A case of African histoplasmosis primarily affecting the large bowel--a very unusual manifestation--is reported. In the absence of classical clinical features, pathognomonic of large bowel histoplasmosis, the macroscopic appearance at surgery was confused with large-bowel cancer. The diagnosis was, therefore, retrospective and based on demonstration of large yeast cells of Histoplasma capsulatum var. duboisii in tissue sections of the lesions.