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ArticleHead and neck pathology2025

Tonsillar Leishmaniasis: A Rare Clinical Entity Mimicking Malignancy in the Oropharynx - A Case Series from Northeastern Italy.

Giulia Querzoli, Margherita Ortalli, Stefania Varani, Matteo Errani, Andrea Ambrosini-Spaltro, Marina Del Vecchio, Anna Rita Lombardi, Paolo Rinaldi, Carlo Biagetti, Riccardo Albertini and 8 more

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Article in Head and neck pathology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

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0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

18 authors.

Giulia QuerzoliPathology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy. giulia.querzoli2@unibo.it.
Margherita OrtalliDepartment of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), University of Bologna, Via Albertoni 15, 40100, Bologna, Italy.
Stefania VaraniDepartment of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), University of Bologna, Via Albertoni 15, 40100, Bologna, Italy.
Matteo ErraniSchool of Anatomic Pathology, Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, 40126, Bologna, Italy.
Andrea Ambrosini-SpaltroPathology Unit, Morgagni-Pierantoni Hospital, Forlì, Romagna, AUSL, Italy.
Marina Del VecchioPathology Unit, Degli Infermi Hospital, Rimini, Romagna, AUSL, Italy.
Anna Rita LombardiPathology Unit, Degli Infermi Hospital, Rimini, Romagna, AUSL, Italy.
Paolo RinaldiPathology Unit, Degli Infermi Hospital, Rimini, Romagna, AUSL, Italy.
Carlo BiagettiUOC Malattie Infettive Ospedale degli Infermi Rimini AUSL Romagna, Romagna, Italy.
Riccardo AlbertiniOtorhinolaryngology Unit, Maggiore Hospital, AUSL Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
Luca AmorosaOtorhinolaryngology Unit, Maggiore Hospital, AUSL Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
Alessandro RostiDepartment of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), University of Bologna, Via Albertoni 15, 40100, Bologna, Italy.
Marco TrebbiUOC ORL, Ospedale degli Infermi Rimini, Dipartimento Chirurgico, AUSL, Romagna, Italy.
Paolo FarnetiENT Unit, Bellaria Hospital, AUSL Bologna, 40139, Bologna, Italy.
Ernesto PasquiniENT Unit, Bellaria Hospital, AUSL Bologna, 40139, Bologna, Italy.
Antonio MastroianniInfectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Department of Specialty Medicine, "Annunziata" Hub Hospital, Azienda Ospedaliera di Cosenza, Cosenza, Italy.
Maria Pia Foschini *Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (DIBINEM), Alma Mater Studiorum, Unit of Anatomic Pathology, University of Bologna, Bellaria Hospital, Bologna, Italy.
Valeria Gaspari *Dermatology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Policlinico S. Orsola Malpighi, 40126, Bologna, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeTegumentary leishmaniasis (TL) is a neglected disease in Europe, often underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed due to its variable clinical presentation. Mucosal leishmaniasis (ML) is a rare manifestation of TL, and isolated tonsillar leishmaniasis is an even rarer finding, with very few reported cases. This study aims to expand knowledge on this unusual clinical entity by describing five cases of isolated tonsillar leishmaniasis diagnosed in the Emilia-Romagna region (ERR), northeastern Italy, emphasizing diagnostic challenges and treatment outcomes.

methodsBetween January 2014 and December 2024, all consecutive patients presenting with unilateral tonsillar swelling and pharyngodynia were evaluated at otolaryngology units in ERR hospitals. Histopathological analysis, special stains (H&E, Giemsa, PAS, Ziehl-Neelsen), and immunostaining (CD1a) were performed at the referring hospital. Microbiological confirmation was obtained through real-time PCR targeting Leishmania kDNA and rRNA. Treatment was administered according to current TL guidelines.

resultsWe included five patients who presented with unilateral tonsillar swelling mimicking malignancy and with a histological diagnosis of non-necrotizing granulomas. Histology revealed amastigotes in four cases. PCR confirmed Leishmania infection in all cases. Treatment with liposomal amphotericin B or pentamidine led to complete clinical remission.

conclusionIsolated tonsillar leishmaniasis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of head and neck tumors, especially in endemic regions. Histological and molecular tools are essential for accurate diagnosis. Increased awareness among clinicians and pathologists is necessary to improve recognition and management of this rare presentation.

Indexed as

LeishmaniasisLeishmaniasis, MucocutaneousPalatine TonsilTonsillar NeoplasmsAdultAgedDiagnosis, DifferentialFemaleHumansItalyMaleMiddle AgedOropharynxEndemic regionsGranulomatous lesionsOropharyngeal malignanciesTegumentary leishmaniasisTonsillar leishmaniasis

Identifiers

PMID40138028
PMCPMC11947358

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.