Basidiobolomycosis complicated by hydronephrosis and a perinephric abscess presenting as a hypertensive emergency in a 7-year-old boy

Abstract

A 7-year-old boy presented with a chronic, indurated, tender left thigh swelling in association with a hypertensive emergency. He had a bilateral moderate degree of hydronephrosis and a left perinephric abscess, and MRI features of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome. Histopathological examination of the biopsy specimen demonstrated eosinophilic fasciitis with filamentous fungi. Basidiobolus ranarum was isolated from the culture. The fungus was also isolated from a perinephric fluid aspirate. Computerised tomography of the abdomen demonstrated features consistent with fungal invasion of the pelvic floor muscles and urinary bladder, leading to bilateral hydronephrosis. He required multiple antihypertensive drug therapy and was treated with intravenous amphotericin B, oral itraconazole and potassium iodide. Antihypertensive agents were discontinued after 2 weeks of antifungal therapy. At 6-months follow-up, the hydronephrosis had resolved completely. Perinephric abscess associated with basidiobolomycosis has not been reported previously.

Keywords:

• Basidiobolomycosis
• perinephric abscess
• hypertension
• hydronephrosis