Disseminated histoplasmosis mimicking relapsed chronic lymphocytic leukaemia

Histoplasma microconidia when inhaled are presented in antigenic form to T cells, limiting the extent of infection; however, defects in cellular immunity results in disseminated disease. Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) is a lymphoproliferative disorder resulting in functionally impaired lymphocytes, predisposing patients to various opportunistic infections. The author reports a recently treated patient with CLL presenting with constitutional symptoms accompanied by hepatosplenomegaly and diffuse adenopathy. Considering the recent diagnosis and treatment of CLL, initial suspicion was relapsed disease. However, considering the immune deficiency associated with CLL and its treatment, infectious aetiologies were strongly considered. Further investigation revealed a case of disseminated histoplasmosis mimicking CLL in this reported patient. Considering appropriate diagnosis and timely therapy, the reported patient had good prognosis despite being diagnosed with disseminated histoplasmosis. This case highlights consideration of disseminated histoplasmosis in patients presenting with diffuse adenopathy along with hepatomegaly and/or splenomegaly in the right clinical setting.

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