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Hsu JC, Chang PH, Tai CH, Chen YC. Histoplasmosis in Taiwan: Case Summary and Literature Review. Life (Basel) 2024; 14:738. [PMID: 38929720 PMCID: PMC11204960 DOI: 10.3390/life14060738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2024] [Revised: 06/01/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Histoplasmosis is a global infection caused by the thermally dimorphic fungus, Histoplasma capsulatum complex. It is endemic in the United States, as well as in Central and South America. In Taiwan, histoplasmosis is rare, with the first reported case not occurring until 1977. We summarized a total of 17 cases reported in Taiwan over the past 40 years and provided detailed descriptions for four probable indigenous cases. Due to the lack of rapid diagnostic tools and clinical suspicion, histoplasmosis may be underdiagnosed in Taiwan. We recognize that a limitation of our review is the lack of data on the environmental surveillance for H. capsulatum complex in Taiwan. Conducting a further phylogenetic analysis on both environmental and clinical isolates would provide valuable evidence for the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jui-Chi Hsu
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan; (J.-C.H.); (C.-H.T.)
| | - Po-Hsun Chang
- Department of Pharmacy, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan;
| | - Chien-Hsiang Tai
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan; (J.-C.H.); (C.-H.T.)
- Department of Public Health, College of Health Science, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Chun Chen
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan; (J.-C.H.); (C.-H.T.)
- College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan
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Plaza López P, Parini G, Martinez Miralles E, Aguilar Puente Y. Histoplasmosis in the differential diagnosis of hypermetabolic adrenal masses in 18F-FDG PET/CT. Rev Esp Med Nucl Imagen Mol 2022; 41:314-316. [DOI: 10.1016/j.remnie.2022.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Plaza López PJ, Parini G, Martinez Miralles E, Aguilar Puente Y. Histoplasmosis in the differential diagnosis of hypermetabolic adrenal masses in 18F-FDG PET/TC. Rev Esp Med Nucl Imagen Mol 2021; 41:S2253-654X(21)00130-X. [PMID: 34305043 DOI: 10.1016/j.remn.2021.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- P J Plaza López
- Medicina Nuclear, Hospital QuironSalud Barcelona, Barcelona, España.
| | - G Parini
- Anatomía Patológica, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, España
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Ankrah AO, Sathekge MM, Dierckx RAJO, Glaudemans AWJM. Radionuclide Imaging of Fungal Infections and Correlation with the Host Defense Response. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7060407. [PMID: 34067410 PMCID: PMC8224611 DOI: 10.3390/jof7060407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2021] [Revised: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The human response to invading fungi includes a series of events that detect, kill, or clear the fungi. If the metabolic host response is unable to eliminate the fungi, an infection ensues. Some of the host response’s metabolic events to fungi can be imaged with molecules labelled with radionuclides. Several important clinical applications have been found with radiolabelled biomolecules of inflammation. 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose is the tracer that has been most widely investigated in the host defence of fungi. This tracer has added value in the early detection of infection, in staging and visualising dissemination of infection, and in monitoring antifungal treatment. Radiolabelled antimicrobial peptides showed promising results, but large prospective studies in fungal infection are lacking. Other tracers have also been used in imaging events of the host response, such as the migration of white blood cells at sites of infection, nutritional immunity in iron metabolism, and radiolabelled monoclonal antibodies. Many tracers are still at the preclinical stage. Some tracers require further studies before translation into clinical use. The application of therapeutic radionuclides offers a very promising clinical application of these tracers in managing drug-resistant fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfred O. Ankrah
- National Centre for Radiotherapy Oncology and Nuclear Medicine, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra GA-222 7974, Ghana;
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of Pretoria, Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Pretoria 0001, South Africa;
- Medical Imaging Center, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands;
| | - Mike M. Sathekge
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of Pretoria, Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Pretoria 0001, South Africa;
| | - Rudi A. J. O. Dierckx
- Medical Imaging Center, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands;
| | - Andor W. J. M. Glaudemans
- Medical Imaging Center, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands;
- Correspondence:
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What, where and why: exploring fluorodeoxyglucose-PET's ability to localise and differentiate infection from cancer. Curr Opin Infect Dis 2018; 30:552-564. [PMID: 28922285 DOI: 10.1097/qco.0000000000000405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW To review the utility of FDG-PET imaging in detecting the cause of fever and infection in patients with cancer. RECENT FINDINGS FDG-PET has been shown to have high sensitivity and accuracy for causes of neutropenic fever, leading to higher diagnostic certainty in this group. Recent advances in pathogen-specific labelling in PET to identify Aspergillus spp. and Yersinia spp. infections in mice, as well as differentiating between Gram-positive, Gram-negative and mycobacterial infections are promising. SUMMARY Patients with cancer are vulnerable to infection and fever, and the causes of these are frequently unclear using conventional diagnostic methods leading to high morbidity and mortality, length of stay and costs of care. FDG-PET/CT, with its unique complementary functional and anatomical information as well as its whole-body imaging capability, has demonstrated use in detecting occult infection in immunocompromised patients, including invasive fungal and occult bacterial infections, as well as defining extent of infection. By demonstrating disease resolution following treatment and allowing earlier cessation of therapy, FDG-PET acts as a key tool for antimicrobial and antifungal stewardship. Limitations include at times poor differentiation between infection, malignancy and sterile inflammation, however, exciting new technologies specific to infectious pathogens may help alleviate that issue. Further prospective randomised research is needed to explore these benefits in a nonbiased fashion.
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Abstract
Monitoring response to treatment is a key element in the management of infectious diseases, yet controversies still persist on reliable biomarkers for noninvasive response evaluation. Considering the limitations of invasiveness of most diagnostic procedures and the issue of expression heterogeneity of pathology, molecular imaging is better able to assay in vivo biologic processes noninvasively and quantitatively. The usefulness of 18F-FDG-PET/CT in assessing treatment response in infectious diseases is more promising than for conventional imaging. However, there are currently no clinical criteria or recommended imaging modalities to objectively evaluate the effectiveness of antimicrobial treatment. Therapeutic effectiveness is currently gauged by the patient's subjective clinical response. In this review, we present the current studies for monitoring treatment response, with a focus on Mycobacterium tuberculosis, as it remains a major worldwide cause of morbidity and mortality. The role of molecular imaging in monitoring other infections including spondylodiscitis, infected prosthetic vascular grafts, invasive fungal infections, and a parasitic disease is highlighted. The role of functional imaging in monitoring lipodystrophy associated with highly active antiretroviral therapy for human immunodeficiency virus is considered. We also discuss the key challenges and emerging data in optimizing noninvasive response evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mike M Sathekge
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of Pretoria and Steve Biko Academic Hospital, South Africa..
| | - Alfred O Ankrah
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of Pretoria and Steve Biko Academic Hospital, South Africa.; Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Ismaheel Lawal
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of Pretoria and Steve Biko Academic Hospital, South Africa
| | - Mariza Vorster
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of Pretoria and Steve Biko Academic Hospital, South Africa
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Kalathoorakath RR, Sharma A, Sood A, Nahar U, Gorla AKR, Mittal BR. 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging and PET-guided biopsy in evaluation and treatment decision in adrenal histoplasmosis. BJR Case Rep 2016; 2:20150451. [PMID: 30459990 PMCID: PMC6243334 DOI: 10.1259/bjrcr.20150451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2015] [Revised: 02/08/2016] [Accepted: 02/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Histoplasmosis is a rare opportunistic fungal infection. It is commonly seen in immunocompromised individuals from endemic areas. Adrenal glands are frequently involved in the disseminated disease. Here, we present the case of a retropositive patient with constitutional symptoms, where whole-body positron emission tomography/CT scan revealed intense 18F-fludeoxyglucose uptake in bulky adrenal glands, and subsequent positron emission tomography-guided biopsy helped in establishing the diagnosis of adrenal histoplasmosis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Aman Sharma
- Department of Internal Medicine, PGIMER, Chandigarh, India
| | - Ashwani Sood
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, PGIMER, Chandigarh, India
| | - Uma Nahar
- Department of Histopathology, PGIMER, Chandigarh, India
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Ankrah AO, Sathekge MM, Dierckx RAJO, Glaudemans AWJM. Imaging fungal infections in children. Clin Transl Imaging 2016; 4:57-72. [PMID: 26913275 PMCID: PMC4752574 DOI: 10.1007/s40336-015-0159-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2015] [Accepted: 12/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Fungal infections in children rarely occur, but continue to have a high morbidity and mortality despite the development of newer antifungal agents. It is essential for these infections to be diagnosed at the earliest possible stage so appropriate treatment can be initiated promptly. The addition of high-resolution computer tomography (HR CT) has helped in early diagnosis making; however, it lacks both sensitivity and specificity. Metabolic changes precede anatomical changes and hybrid imaging with positron emission tomography (PET) integrated with imaging modalities with high anatomical resolution such as CT or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is likely to detect these infections at an earlier stage with higher diagnostic accuracy rates. Several authors presented papers highlighting the advantages of PET/CT in imaging fungal infections. These papers, however, usually involve a limited number of patients and mostly adults. Fungal infections behave different in children than in adults, since there are differences in epidemiology, imaging findings, and response to treatment with antifungal drugs. This paper reviews the literature and explores the use of hybrid imaging for diagnosis and therapy decision making in children with fungal infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfred O Ankrah
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, PO 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands ; Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of Pretoria and Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Mike M Sathekge
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of Pretoria and Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Rudi A J O Dierckx
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, PO 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Andor W J M Glaudemans
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, PO 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands
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Altinmakas E, Guo M, Kundu UR, Habra MA, Ng C. Computed tomography and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography findings in adrenal candidiasis and histoplasmosis: two cases. Clin Imaging 2015; 39:1115-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.clinimag.2015.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2015] [Revised: 06/19/2015] [Accepted: 07/06/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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Abstract
Histoplasmosis, a granulomatous mycosis caused by the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum, is known to primarily affect the lungs and the immune system, with involvement of skeletal system as a rare manifestation, in which case the disease usually assumes multifocality. We present a singular case of a young man diagnosed to have an isolated skeletal histoplasmosis involving the body of sternum where 18F-FDG PET/CT played major role in both diagnosis and in response evaluation to antifungal therapy.
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Kandathil A, Wong KK, Wale DJ, Zatelli MC, Maffione AM, Gross MD, Rubello D. Metabolic and anatomic characteristics of benign and malignant adrenal masses on positron emission tomography/computed tomography: a review of literature. Endocrine 2015; 49:6-26. [PMID: 25273320 DOI: 10.1007/s12020-014-0440-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2014] [Accepted: 09/25/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
PET/CT with (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) or using different radiocompounds has proven accuracy for detection of adrenal metastases in patients undergoing cancer staging. It can assist the diagnostic work-up in oncology patients by identifying distant metastases to the adrenal(s) and defining oligometastatic disease that may benefit from targeted intervention. In patients with incidentally discovered adrenal nodules, so-called adrenal "incidentaloma" FDG PET/CT is emerging as a useful test to distinguish benign from malignant etiology. Current published evidence suggests a role for FDG PET/CT in assessing the malignant potential of an adrenal lesion that has been 'indeterminately' categorized with unenhanced CT, adrenal protocol contrast-enhanced CT, or chemical-shift MRI. FDG PET/CT could be used to stratify patients with higher risk of malignancy for surgical intervention, while recommending surveillance for adrenal masses with low malignant potential. There are caveats for interpretation of the metabolic activity of an adrenal nodule on PET/CT that may lead to false-positive and false-negative interpretation. Adrenal lesions represent a wide spectrum of etiologies, and the typical appearances on PET/CT are still being described, therefore our goal was to summarize the current diagnostic strategies for evaluation of adrenal lesions and present metabolic and anatomic appearances of common and uncommon adrenal lesions. In spite of the emerging role of PET/CT to differentiate benign from malignant adrenal mass, especially in difficult cases, it should be emphasized that PET/CT is not needed for most patients and that many diagnostic problems can be resolved by CT and/or MR imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asha Kandathil
- Nuclear Medicine/Radiology Department, University of Michigan Hospital, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
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18F-FDG PET as a monitoring tool to assess treatment response in bilateral adrenal histoplasmosis. Clin Nucl Med 2014; 39:576-8. [PMID: 24662660 DOI: 10.1097/rlu.0000000000000400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
A 60-year-old woman with clinical and biochemical features suggestive of adrenal insufficiency was found to have bilateral adrenal masses on CT scan and was subjected to F-FDG PET scan. The scan showed hypermetabolic mediastinal nodes in addition to intense tracer uptake in bilateral adrenal masses. CT-guided adrenal biopsy grew Histoplasma capsulatum on Sabouraud dextrose agar culture. A second F-FDG PET scan after 6 months of appropriate antifungal therapy showed a significant decrease in intensity of uptake consistent with the clinical outcome.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE Combined anatomic and functional imaging with (18)F-FDG PET/CT is slowly gaining foothold in the management of various infective pathologic abnormalities. However, limited literature is available regarding the role of FDG PET/CT in patients with fungal infections. CONCLUSION Here, we briefly review the available literature and highlight the potential role that FDG PET/CT can play in the diagnosis and management of fungal infections.
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