title: Pythium insidiosum: A Rare Necrotizing Orbital and Facial Infection.
abstract: Pythium insidiosum, also known as "swamp cancer," has been long known for its destructive effects on plants and animals. Infections with this fungus-like organism typically occur in temperate, tropical, and subtropical regions [ 1]. Human infection with P insidiosum, although exceedingly rare, is characterized by invasion of the cornea, cutaneous, subcutaneous, and orbital tissues with eosinophilic, tumor-like masses demonstrating arterial tropism [ 1, 2]. In most cases, patients have a history of recent exposure to wet environments [ 1]. If left untreated, P insidiosum is fatal, because it is an angioinvasive organism that leads to thrombosis and tissue ischemia. Reports of most human cases are from Thailand, with only 4 well documented orbital cases to date in the United States and Australia [ 1, 3, 4].
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Hamilton Eye Institute, Memphis;
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kirzhner
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, Memphis;
authors.forename: Sandra R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Arnold
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Hamilton Eye Institute, Memphis;
authors.forename: Cari
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lyle
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics, Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, East Lansing.
authors.forename: Leonel L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Mendoza
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Hamilton Eye Institute, Memphis;
authors.forename: James C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Fleming
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005123:Eye / Q000473:pathology; D005145:Face / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009336:Necrosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D009916:Orbital Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D058968:Pythiosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011775:Pythium; D014612:Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D014612:Vaccines
keywords: diagnosis; orbital cellulitis; pythium insidiosum; treatment; vaccine.